19 best airline credit cards of January 2025

Credit Cards

19 best airline credit cards of January 2025

By

Madison Blancaflor

Updated

Most of the cards we feature here are from partners who compensate us when you approve through our site, and this may impact how or where these products appear. We don’t cover all available credit cards, but our analysis, reviews, and opinions are entirely from our editorial team. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.

The best airline credit card varies for each traveler, depending on where you live and how often you fly. Whether you’re an airline loyalist or a casual traveler, any of the cards on our list below could help make your flights more rewarding and enjoyable.

Check out our curated selection and comprehensive guide on some of the best airline cards from our partners below.

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At The Points Guy, our goal is to help you maximize your travel experiences while minimizing spending. Our travel and credit cards experts share their own experiences and give honest analyses to help you make decisions that benefit you the most. While we do receive compensation through our credit card application links, ads, and clearly indicated sponsored content, our editorial content, points valuations and card analysis are entirely our own.

Featured Cards

The Platinum Card® from American Express: Best for luxury benefits
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card: Best for simple rewards earning
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: Best for beginner travelers
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card: Best for premium travel
Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®: Best for Admirals Club access

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Limited-Time Offer

Best for luxury benefits

The Platinum Card® from American Express

Overall Grade

4.5 / 5

Rewards rate

Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year.

Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.

Intro Offer

As high as 175,000 points. Find out your offer.

Annual Fee

$695

Regular APR

See Pay Over Time APR

Recommended Credit

670-850
Excellent/Good

Pros

The current welcome offer on this card is quite lucrative. TPG values it at $1,600.
This card comes with a long list of benefits, including access to Centurion Lounges, complimentary elite status with Hilton and Marriott (enrollment required), an assortment of annual statement credits and so much more.
The Amex Platinum comes with access to a premium concierge service that can help you with everything from booking hard-to-get reservations to finding destination guides to help you plan out your next getaway.

Cons

The $695 annual fee is only worth it if you’re taking full advantage of the card’s benefits. Seldom travelers may not get enough value to warrant the cost.
Outside of the current welcome bonus, you’re only earning bonus rewards on specific airfare and hotel purchases, so it’s not a great card for other spending categories.
The annual airline fee credit and other statement credits can be complicated to take advantage of compared to the broader travel credits offered by competing premium cards.

You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards Points after you spend $8,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months. You may not be eligible for the maximum welcome offer amount.
Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
$200 Hotel Credit: Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings through American Express Travel using your Platinum Card®. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
$240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back in statement credits each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card® on one or more of the following: Disney+, a Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
The American Express Global Lounge Collection® can provide an escape at the airport. With complimentary access to more than 1,400 airport lounges across 140 countries and counting, you have more airport lounge options than any other credit card issuer on the market. As of 03/2023.
$155 Walmart+ Credit: Save on eligible delivery fees, shipping, and more with a Walmart+ membership. Use your Platinum Card® to pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership and get up to $12.95 plus applicable taxes back on one membership (excluding Plus Ups) each month.
$200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your Platinum Card®.
$200 Uber Cash: Platinum Card® Members can get out and about and explore their local area with $15 in Uber Cash for US rides each month, plus a bonus $20 in December. That can be up to $200 in annual Uber savings. Simply download the Uber app and add your Platinum Card® to your Uber account to get started. Available to Basic Card Member only. Effective 11/8/2024, an Amex Card must be selected as the payment method for your Uber or Uber Eats transaction to redeem the Amex Uber Cash benefit.
$199 CLEAR® Plus Credit: CLEAR® Plus helps to get you to your gate faster at 50+ airports nationwide and get up to $199 back per calendar year on your Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Card. CLEARLanes are available at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues.
Receive either a $120 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck® (through a TSA official enrollment provider) application fee, when charged to your Platinum Card®. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.

Best for luxury benefits

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Overall Grade

4.5 / 5

Rewards rate

Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year.

Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.

Intro Offer

As high as 175,000 points. Find out your offer.

Annual Fee

$695

Regular APR

See Pay Over Time APR

Recommended Credit

670-850
Excellent/Good

Pros

The current welcome offer on this card is quite lucrative. TPG values it at $1,600.
This card comes with a long list of benefits, including access to Centurion Lounges, complimentary elite status with Hilton and Marriott (enrollment required), an assortment of annual statement credits and so much more.
The Amex Platinum comes with access to a premium concierge service that can help you with everything from booking hard-to-get reservations to finding destination guides to help you plan out your next getaway.

Cons

The $695 annual fee is only worth it if you’re taking full advantage of the card’s benefits. Seldom travelers may not get enough value to warrant the cost.
Outside of the current welcome bonus, you’re only earning bonus rewards on specific airfare and hotel purchases, so it’s not a great card for other spending categories.
The annual airline fee credit and other statement credits can be complicated to take advantage of compared to the broader travel credits offered by competing premium cards.

You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards Points after you spend $8,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months. You may not be eligible for the maximum welcome offer amount.
Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
$200 Hotel Credit: Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings through American Express Travel using your Platinum Card®. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
$240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back in statement credits each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card® on one or more of the following: Disney+, a Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
The American Express Global Lounge Collection® can provide an escape at the airport. With complimentary access to more than 1,400 airport lounges across 140 countries and counting, you have more airport lounge options than any other credit card issuer on the market. As of 03/2023.
$155 Walmart+ Credit: Save on eligible delivery fees, shipping, and more with a Walmart+ membership. Use your Platinum Card® to pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership and get up to $12.95 plus applicable taxes back on one membership (excluding Plus Ups) each month.
$200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your Platinum Card®.
$200 Uber Cash: Platinum Card® Members can get out and about and explore their local area with $15 in Uber Cash for US rides each month, plus a bonus $20 in December. That can be up to $200 in annual Uber savings. Simply download the Uber app and add your Platinum Card® to your Uber account to get started. Available to Basic Card Member only. Effective 11/8/2024, an Amex Card must be selected as the payment method for your Uber or Uber Eats transaction to redeem the Amex Uber Cash benefit.
$199 CLEAR® Plus Credit: CLEAR® Plus helps to get you to your gate faster at 50+ airports nationwide and get up to $199 back per calendar year on your Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Card. CLEARLanes are available at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues.
Receive either a $120 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck® (through a TSA official enrollment provider) application fee, when charged to your Platinum Card®. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.

Best for luxury benefits

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

Overall Grade

4.5 / 5

Rewards rate

Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year.

Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.

Intro Offer

As high as 175,000 points. Find out your offer.

Annual Fee

$695

Regular APR

See Pay Over Time APR

Recommended Credit

670-850
Excellent/Good

Pros

The current welcome offer on this card is quite lucrative. TPG values it at $1,600.
This card comes with a long list of benefits, including access to Centurion Lounges, complimentary elite status with Hilton and Marriott (enrollment required), an assortment of annual statement credits and so much more.
The Amex Platinum comes with access to a premium concierge service that can help you with everything from booking hard-to-get reservations to finding destination guides to help you plan out your next getaway.

Cons

The $695 annual fee is only worth it if you’re taking full advantage of the card’s benefits. Seldom travelers may not get enough value to warrant the cost.
Outside of the current welcome bonus, you’re only earning bonus rewards on specific airfare and hotel purchases, so it’s not a great card for other spending categories.
The annual airline fee credit and other statement credits can be complicated to take advantage of compared to the broader travel credits offered by competing premium cards.

You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards Points after you spend $8,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months. You may not be eligible for the maximum welcome offer amount.
Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
$200 Hotel Credit: Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings through American Express Travel using your Platinum Card®. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
$240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back in statement credits each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card® on one or more of the following: Disney+, a Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
The American Express Global Lounge Collection® can provide an escape at the airport. With complimentary access to more than 1,400 airport lounges across 140 countries and counting, you have more airport lounge options than any other credit card issuer on the market. As of 03/2023.
$155 Walmart+ Credit: Save on eligible delivery fees, shipping, and more with a Walmart+ membership. Use your Platinum Card® to pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership and get up to $12.95 plus applicable taxes back on one membership (excluding Plus Ups) each month.
$200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your Platinum Card®.
$200 Uber Cash: Platinum Card® Members can get out and about and explore their local area with $15 in Uber Cash for US rides each month, plus a bonus $20 in December. That can be up to $200 in annual Uber savings. Simply download the Uber app and add your Platinum Card® to your Uber account to get started. Available to Basic Card Member only. Effective 11/8/2024, an Amex Card must be selected as the payment method for your Uber or Uber Eats transaction to redeem the Amex Uber Cash benefit.
$199 CLEAR® Plus Credit: CLEAR® Plus helps to get you to your gate faster at 50+ airports nationwide and get up to $199 back per calendar year on your Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Card. CLEARLanes are available at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues.
Receive either a $120 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck® (through a TSA official enrollment provider) application fee, when charged to your Platinum Card®. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.

Best for luxury benefits

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

Overall Grade

4.5 / 5

Rewards rate

Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year.

Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.

Intro Offer

As high as 175,000 points. Find out your offer.

Annual Fee

$695

Regular APR

See Pay Over Time APR

Recommended Credit

670-850
Excellent/Good

Pros

The current welcome offer on this card is quite lucrative. TPG values it at $1,600.
This card comes with a long list of benefits, including access to Centurion Lounges, complimentary elite status with Hilton and Marriott (enrollment required), an assortment of annual statement credits and so much more.
The Amex Platinum comes with access to a premium concierge service that can help you with everything from booking hard-to-get reservations to finding destination guides to help you plan out your next getaway.

Cons

The $695 annual fee is only worth it if you’re taking full advantage of the card’s benefits. Seldom travelers may not get enough value to warrant the cost.
Outside of the current welcome bonus, you’re only earning bonus rewards on specific airfare and hotel purchases, so it’s not a great card for other spending categories.
The annual airline fee credit and other statement credits can be complicated to take advantage of compared to the broader travel credits offered by competing premium cards.

You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards Points after you spend $8,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months. You may not be eligible for the maximum welcome offer amount.
Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
$200 Hotel Credit: Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings through American Express Travel using your Platinum Card®. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
$240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back in statement credits each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card® on one or more of the following: Disney+, a Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
The American Express Global Lounge Collection® can provide an escape at the airport. With complimentary access to more than 1,400 airport lounges across 140 countries and counting, you have more airport lounge options than any other credit card issuer on the market. As of 03/2023.
$155 Walmart+ Credit: Save on eligible delivery fees, shipping, and more with a Walmart+ membership. Use your Platinum Card® to pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership and get up to $12.95 plus applicable taxes back on one membership (excluding Plus Ups) each month.
$200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your Platinum Card®.
$200 Uber Cash: Platinum Card® Members can get out and about and explore their local area with $15 in Uber Cash for US rides each month, plus a bonus $20 in December. That can be up to $200 in annual Uber savings. Simply download the Uber app and add your Platinum Card® to your Uber account to get started. Available to Basic Card Member only. Effective 11/8/2024, an Amex Card must be selected as the payment method for your Uber or Uber Eats transaction to redeem the Amex Uber Cash benefit.
$199 CLEAR® Plus Credit: CLEAR® Plus helps to get you to your gate faster at 50+ airports nationwide and get up to $199 back per calendar year on your Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Card. CLEARLanes are available at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues.
Receive either a $120 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck® (through a TSA official enrollment provider) application fee, when charged to your Platinum Card®. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.

Helpful Tools

Comparing the best airline credit cards

Credit card

Best for

Intro offer

Earning rate

Annual fee

4.5

Luxury benefits

As high as 175,000 points. Find out your offer.

5X points

$695

4.5

Simple rewards earning

Earn 75,000 miles

2 – 5miles miles

$95

4.5

Beginner travelers

Earn 75,000 miles

2 – 5miles miles

$395

More details on the best airline credit cards

The Platinum Card® from American Express

The Amex Platinum remains the No. 1 card for travel perks and benefits. You can easily offset the full cost of the annual fee (see rates and fees) if you know how to maximize the various perks and credits the card offers, and those benefits can go a long way toward upgrading your travel experience.

Frequent travelers who know they can make the most of the many perks this card has to offer will benefit the most from adding it to their wallet.

“Whilst this card has a high annual fee, it more than justifies itself for frequent travelers like me. The lounge access options that come with the Platinum are unrivaled by competitors. I put all of my flights — whether bought with cash or points — on this card to earn 5 points per dollar spent (up to 500,000 points per year, then 1 point per dollar; must be purchased directly with the airline or with Amex Travel). I make sure to take full advantage of the Uber, Saks Fifth Avenue, Hulu/Disney+ and Clear Plus credits (enrollment is required). And, honestly, pulling a Platinum card out of your wallet to pay for something does feel pretty fancy.” — Matt Moffitt, senior credit cards editor

Travelers who won’t utilize the various credits offered by the Amex Platinum might find more value with the Chase Sapphire Reserve®. That card offers plenty of strong benefits — including lounge access, a travel credit and fantastic travel protections — but you’ll also get a strong earning rate across categories beyond just travel purchases.

How we rate cards

In order to rank the best airline credit cards, TPG editors considered several factors that deliver the greatest value to cardholders, whether you prefer budget-friendly flights or seek premium luxury accommodations at cruising altitude. To learn more about how TPG evaluates and chooses cards for our roundups, check out our

Welcome bonus

The value of the points or miles new cardholders can earn.

Annual fee

The best airline credit cards range from options with zero annual fees to heftier fees that provide premium perks.

Earning rates

We chose cards that earn points or miles every time you tap to make a purchase.

Redemption options

The best airline credit cards feature redemption options to suit different types of travelers and their needs.

Added benefits

Different co-branded airlines each provide their own set of benefits and perks associated with the credit cards they issue.

Credit pointers with Brian Kelly

Deciding if any airline card is right for you? Here are a few helpful tips from the Points Guy himself

47 sec video

How to choose the best airline credit card

Choosing the best airline credit card for your needs depends on a couple of factors, including which airline you most frequently use, what type of traveler you are and how often you fly. If you want a basic card that earns points and miles with no added frills, you probably don’t need a premium airline card that features a hefty annual fee and offers seat or cabin upgrades. If these things are important to you, then a premium airline credit card may be a better fit. Here are some of the main points to consider when choosing an airline credit card:

1 Welcome bonus

Consider how much traveling you plan to do in the future and opt for a card that features a generous sign-up bonus. This way, you can bank those points or miles and use them when you need them. Just remember to check whether your earned rewards expire or not.

2 Annual fee

Typically, airline credit cards with higher annual fees offer more travel perks and upgrade options.

3 Bonus categories

Choose an airline credit card based on your travel needs and spending habits — this means looking at which bonus categories a card offers before applying.

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Pros + cons of airline credit cards

Pros

Using airline credit cards responsibly can help you build your credit score
Airline credit cards can earn points or miles on every dollar you spend
Airline credit cards provide purchase, theft and fraud protection
Airline credit cards provide perks like travel insurance, shortcuts to elite status and more

Cons

Airline credit cards can encourage overspending
Carrying a balance and using your airline card irresponsibly can damage your credit score
The cost of borrowing on airline credit cards is higher than traditional loans
Having too many card applications can negatively affect your credit score
You may not travel enough to make an airline credit card worthwhile

Frequently asked questions

Is it worth renewing an airline credit card?

Are you utilizing benefits such as free checked baggage, companion tickets, priority boarding and lounge access? Does your airline credit card help you earn elite status faster? Do the card’s bonus categories allow you to earn additional miles on purchases?

If you’re getting more value out of your airline credit card than it’s costing you each year for the annual fee, it makes sense to renew the card so you can continue reaping those rewards.

However, even if you’re convinced you’re not getting the full value out of the card, consider how long you’ve had the card before you cancel it. The longer you’ve had a credit card card, the more harm canceling it could do to your credit score, since age of accounts is one of the factors that go into determining your credit score.

You can also try calling your issuer to explain that you’re considering canceling your card. By doing so, you might be offered a retention offer such as earning bonus points for hitting a spending threshold, or have your annual fee waived, which will make the idea of renewing all the more enticing.

Who should get an airline credit card?

Just about every type of traveler can take advantage of an airline card, whether you’re a beginner to the points and miles game or a seasoned frequent flyer.

Most airline credit cards include benefits such as free checked bags, priority boarding and discounts on inflight purchases — and even casual travelers can get a lot out of those perks.

Airline credit cards of a more premium nature may also earn elite qualifying miles for those pursuing airline status and even offer in some cases. Those who need a little help achieving elite status, or want to enjoy elite status-like benefits while they work to hit a tier can benefit from an airline card and its perks.

When deciding if an airline card is right for you, it’s important to consider whether you’ll use the card and its benefits enough to offset the cost of its annual fee. Infrequent travelers may benefit most from a card with a low annual fee and fewer benefits, whereas those who are on the road more often might decide a premium card that costs more annually but offers luxury benefits is the right fit.

Do airline miles expire?

Just about every type of traveler can take advantage of an airline card, whether you’re a beginner to the points and miles game or a seasoned frequent flyer.

Most airline credit cards include benefits such as free checked bags, priority boarding and discounts on inflight purchases — and even casual travelers can get a lot out of those perks.

How many miles do I earn with an airline credit card?

Just about every type of traveler can take advantage of an airline card, whether you’re a beginner to the points and miles game or a seasoned frequent flyer.

Most airline credit cards include benefits such as free checked bags, priority boarding and discounts on inflight purchases — and even casual travelers can get a lot out of those perks.

The Clear Path to Your Best Choice

Credit Cards