What is the best airline credit card?

The best airline card depends on your preferred carrier. For flexible travel, the Chase Sapphire Preferred transfers to multiple airline partners and is more versatile than any single cobrand card. For committed airline loyalists, the Chase United Explorer ($95) and Delta SkyMiles Gold ($150) are the top mid-tier offers. For domestic travel value, Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier stands out due to the Companion Pass.

Is an airline credit card worth it?

Yes for frequent travelers on a specific airline — the perks (free checked bags, priority boarding, lounge access) often exceed the annual fee before counting miles earned. The United Explorer card's free checked bag benefit alone is worth $70-$140/round trip for two passengers, exceeding the $95 annual fee in one trip.

Is it better to get an airline card or a travel card?

A general travel card (Chase Sapphire Preferred, Capital One Venture X) is better if you fly multiple airlines or want flexibility. A cobrand airline card is better if you fly one airline heavily and value status benefits, lounge access, and miles on that specific program. Many frequent flyers hold both.

Do airline miles expire?

Most airline miles expire after 18-24 months of inactivity, though policies vary. United MileagePlus miles never expire as long as your account is active. Delta SkyMiles also don't expire. American AAdvantage and Southwest Rapid Rewards miles expire after 24 months without activity. Having a cobrand airline card and making occasional purchases keeps miles active.

Best Airline Credit Cards of 2026: Top Cards for Free Flights

Best Airline Cards — Quick Comparison

Card	Annual Fee	Welcome Bonus	Best Perk	Best For
Chase United Explorer	$95	60,000 miles	Free checked bag + 2 United Club passes	United flyers
Delta SkyMiles Gold (Amex)	$150	80,000 miles	Free first checked bag + 15% off in-flight	Delta flyers
Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier	$99	50,000 pts	Companion Pass progressing	Southwest flyers
Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select	$99	75,000 miles	Free checked bag + preferred boarding	American flyers
Alaska Airlines Visa Signature	$95	70,000 miles	Alaska companion fare ($0 + taxes)	Alaska flyers
Chase United Quest	$250	80,000 miles	$125 United purchase credit, 3x United	Heavy United flyers
Delta SkyMiles Platinum (Amex)	$350	100,000 miles	Delta Sky Club access (limited)	Frequent Delta flyers
Delta SkyMiles Reserve (Amex)	$650	110,000 miles	Delta Sky Club unlimited	Delta elite travelers

Best United Airlines Card: Chase United Explorer

Annual fee: $95 | Welcome bonus: 60,000 miles after $3,000 spend in 3 months | Earning: 2x United purchases, hotels, dining; 1x everything else

Perks that offset the fee:

Perk	Value
Free first checked bag (you + 1 companion)	$70-140/round trip × trips/year
2 United Club one-time passes/year	$60-80
25% back on in-flight purchases	Variable
$0 foreign transaction fees	Variable

Break-even: One round trip with a checked bag for two passengers ($140 value) exceeds the $95 annual fee immediately.

United miles value: United MileagePlus miles are worth approximately 1.2-1.5 cents each. The 60,000-mile welcome bonus = $720-$900 in flight value.

MileagePlus transfer: Chase Ultimate Rewards transfers to United at 1:1 — meaning CSP or CSR holders can move points to United for award flights.

Best Delta Airlines Card: Delta SkyMiles Gold (Amex)

Annual fee: $150 ($0 first year) | Welcome bonus: 80,000 miles after $2,000 spend in 3 months | Earning: 2x Delta purchases, restaurants, supermarkets; 1x everywhere

Perks:

Perk	Value
Free first checked bag (you + up to 8 companions)	$35/bag/leg (multiple per year)
Priority boarding (Main Cabin 1)	Convenience value
15% off in-flight purchases	Variable
No foreign transaction fee	Variable
$200 annual Delta flight credit (after $10,000 spend)	$200

Delta miles value: ~1.1-1.3 cents each. 80,000 miles = roughly $880-$1,040 in flight value.

Best for the Companion Pass: Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier

Annual fee: $99 | Welcome bonus: 50,000 points after $1,000 spend in 3 months | Earning: 3x Southwest purchases, hotel partners, car rental partners; 2x local transit, streaming; 1x everything else

The Companion Pass explained: Southwest’s Companion Pass is one of the most valuable benefits in travel — it allows one designated companion to fly with you for free (taxes only) on every flight for the remainder of the calendar year plus the full next year. To earn it, you need 135,000 Rapid Rewards points in a calendar year.

Strategy: Apply in January and hit the minimum spend to earn the welcome bonus. The 50,000-point bonus plus regular spending often gets you close to the 135,000 threshold faster than flying alone.

Southwest points value: ~1.5 cents each. The $99 annual fee also earns 6,000 anniversary points = $90 in value, making the net fee roughly $9/year.

Best American Airlines Card: Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select

Annual fee: $99 | Welcome bonus: 75,000 miles after $3,500 spend in 4 months | Earning: 2x AA purchases, restaurants, gas; 1x everywhere

Perks:

Free first checked bag (you + up to 4 companions on same reservation) — each way
Preferred boarding (Group 5)
25% savings on in-flight food/beverages
10% of miles back on redemptions (up to 10,000 miles/year)

AAdvantage miles value: ~1.3-1.5 cents each. 75,000 miles = $975-$1,125 in flight value.

Best Alaska Airlines Card: Alaska Airlines Visa Signature

Annual fee: $95 | Welcome bonus: 70,000 miles + Alaska’s Famous Companion Fare (buy one ticket, get a companion for $122 or less in taxes) | Earning: 3x Alaska Airlines, 2x gas/EV/local transit/cable/streaming; 1x everywhere

The Companion Fare: Valid for a year after account opening, the Alaska companion fare certificate gives a second passenger a ticket on any Alaska Airlines flight for as little as $122 in taxes (no fare cost). For a $400+ flight, that’s effectively a free ticket.

Alaska miles are among the most valuable in the industry: They can be redeemed on 13 airline partners including American, Cathay Pacific, British Airways, and Finnair — meaning Alaska miles are useful whether you live near Alaska hubs or not.

Flexible Alternative: Chase Sapphire Preferred

Annual fee: $95 | Transfers to: United, Southwest, British Airways, Singapore, Air France/KLM, Iberia, Aer Lingus

If you don’t want to commit to one airline, the Chase Sapphire Preferred’s Ultimate Rewards points transfer 1:1 to 14 airline and hotel partners. You get airline-quality redemptions (often 1.5-2.5¢ per point) without being locked to one carrier.

Best for: Travelers who fly multiple airlines, or beginners who aren’t sure which carrier will dominate their future travel.

Which Airline Card Is Right for You?

Step 1: Which airline do you fly most?
United → United Explorer
Delta → Delta Gold Amex
Southwest → Southwest Premier
American → Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select
Alaska → Alaska Visa Signature
Multiple/flexible → Chase Sapphire Preferred + transfer

Step 2: How much do you fly?
1-3 trips/year → Entry-level cobrand ($95-$150 fee)
4-6 trips/year → Mid-tier cobrand ($250-$350 fee)
6+ trips/year → Premium cobrand ($350-$650 fee) with lounge access

Written by WealthVieu

WealthVieu researches and writes data-driven personal finance guides using primary sources including the IRS, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Federal Reserve, and Census Bureau.

The content on Wealthvieu is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial, tax, or investment advice. Consult a qualified professional before making financial decisions. Full disclaimer · Editorial policy