Best Airline Credit Cards

An airline credit card earns miles or points with one carrier and, more importantly, unlocks perks that cost real money at the airport: a free checked bag, earlier boarding, lounge visits, or a companion ticket. The catch is the annual fee. For transferable miles and points instead of one airline, see our best travel credit cards. A card that saves a family of four on bags every trip can be a bargain, while the same card in a drawer is a yearly charge for nothing.

Every card on this list was checked on the issuer’s own page on October 5, 2026. We recorded the annual fee, earn rates, bag rules, lounge access, companion perks and APR where the issuer displayed it. Where a page did not show a figure we could confirm, such as the APR on the two Delta cards, we leave it out instead of guessing. Card offers change often, approval is up to the issuer, and this is general information, not financial advice. Some links on Money 8020 are affiliate or partner links; see our advertiser and affiliate disclosure.

How we ranked these airline credit cards

We scored each card on five things, in this order of weight:

1. Day-of-travel savings. A free checked bag and priority boarding are the benefits most cardholders use on every trip, so they count most.
2. Annual fee versus built-in value. Anniversary points, companion fares and statement credits only count if the average cardholder of that airline can realistically use them.
3. Lounge access. Valuable for frequent flyers, irrelevant for everyone else, so we rank it as a tiebreaker except for the premium card.
4. Earn rates. Airline-purchase multipliers and everyday categories such as dining, groceries and gas.
5. Cost of carrying a balance and foreign fees. We compare each issuer’s stated APR with the Federal Reserve’s G.19 average and flag foreign transaction fees.

Methodology note. Fees, benefits and earn rates come only from the issuer’s own card page, loaded on October 5, 2026. Average credit card interest comes from the Federal Reserve G.19 Consumer Credit release dated September 8, 2026. You can read any issuer’s full cardmember agreement in the CFPB credit card agreement database. We do not use third-party rate tables.

Airline credit cards compared at a glance

Sources: issuer card pages at Citi, Chase, Bank of America, Barclays and American Express, checked October 5, 2026. Bag benefits generally require the ticket to be on the eligible reservation, and some require the flight to be paid with the card.

Best overall for checked bags: Delta SkyMiles Gold Amex

The Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card takes the top spot because it combines the most generous bag benefit we found with the lowest first-year cost of any bag card on the list. Per American Express on October 5, 2026, the annual fee is $0 for the first year of Card Membership, then $150. Your first checked bag is free on Delta flights worldwide, and on domestic Delta flights your second bag flies free too.

The card earns 2X miles on purchases made directly with Delta, at U.S. restaurants (including takeout and delivery) and at U.S. supermarkets, and 1X elsewhere. It adds Zone 5 Priority Boarding, 20% back on eligible in-flight food and beverage purchases, and no foreign transaction fees. Heavy spenders can receive a $200 Delta Flight Credit after $10,000 in purchases in a calendar year, and the card pays up to $100 a year back on prepaid Delta Stays bookings. After the first renewal, enrolled cardholders can earn up to $120 a year on U.S. rideshare.

What it lacks: lounge access. American Express states plainly that the Gold card does not currently include lounge benefits. We also could not load the APR or welcome offer from the issuer page today, so we do not list them; check the card’s rates and fees before you apply.

Best for American Airlines flyers: Citi / AAdvantage Globe

The Citi / AAdvantage Globe Mastercard is Citi’s mid-tier American card and the only card on this list under $400 a year that includes airline lounge visits. Per Citi on October 5, 2026, the $350 annual fee buys 4 Admirals Club Globe Passes every calendar year, a first checked bag free on domestic American itineraries for you and up to 8 companions on the same reservation, preferred boarding, and no foreign transaction fees.

It earns 6X AAdvantage miles on eligible AAdvantage Hotels bookings, 3X on eligible American Airlines purchases, 2X at restaurants and on eligible Rides and Rails purchases (taxis, rideshares and public transit), and 1X elsewhere. Credits include up to $100 a year on American inflight purchases, up to $240 a year on eligible Turo trips, up to $100 a year on a choice of listed brands, and up to $120 every 4 years for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck. From the second cardmembership year, you earn an American Airlines Companion Certificate for a domestic main cabin round trip, which carries a $99 ticketing fee plus taxes.

Citi lists 60,000 bonus miles after $4,000 in purchases in the first 3 months and a regular APR of 19.74% to 29.74% variable. The fee is real money, so this card fits people who fly American at least a few times a year and will use the passes.

Best for Southwest flyers: Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority

The Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card has a $229 annual fee, and Chase builds in benefits that offset part of it for regular Southwest flyers. Per Chase on October 5, 2026, you get 7,500 points every cardmember anniversary and a first checked bag free for you and up to 8 additional passengers on the same reservation. Chase says the bag benefit saves up to $90 per round trip, or $45 per bag per trip.

The card also includes a Preferred seat at booking and Extra Legroom seat upgrades within 48 hours of departure when available, Group 5 boarding for everyone on the reservation, 25% back on inflight purchases, and no foreign transaction fees. For status hunters, it adds 2,500 tier qualifying points toward A-List for every $5,000 spent and a 10,000-point Companion Pass qualifying boost each year.

It earns 4X on Southwest purchases, 2X at gas stations and restaurants, and 1X elsewhere. Chase lists 60,000 bonus points after $2,000 in purchases in the first 3 months, and a regular APR of 19.49% to 27.99% variable, the lowest starting APR among the cards on this list that displayed one.

Best companion fare: Atmos Rewards Ascent

The Atmos Rewards Ascent Visa Signature Card is Bank of America’s Alaska Airlines card, which earns Atmos Rewards points on Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines purchases. At $95 a year it has the lowest ongoing fee of any card here that includes a free checked bag. Per Bank of America on October 5, 2026, when you pay for an Alaska or Hawaiian flight with the card, you and up to 6 guests on the same reservation get a free checked bag and preferred boarding.

The standout is the companion fare. Each account anniversary, after you spend $6,000 or more on purchases in the prior anniversary year, you get a $99 Companion Fare (plus taxes and fees from $23). The current online offer adds 50,000 bonus points and a $99 Companion Fare after $1,500 in purchases within the first 90 days.

It earns 3X on eligible Alaska and Hawaiian purchases, 2X on gas, EV charging, cable, streaming and local transit (including rideshare), and 1X elsewhere, with a 10% rewards bonus if you have an eligible Bank of America account. Bank of America shows no introductory APR, a standard APR of 19.74% to 27.74% variable, and $100 off an annual Alaska Lounge+ membership bought with the card.

Best for JetBlue flyers: JetBlue Plus

The JetBlue Plus Card from Barclays earns the highest airline multiplier on this list: 6X points on eligible JetBlue purchases, plus 2X at restaurants and eligible grocery stores and 1X elsewhere. Per Barclays on October 5, 2026, the annual fee is $99, and cardholders get a free first checked bag for themselves and up to 3 eligible companions on JetBlue-operated flights.

Each year after your account anniversary you earn 5,000 bonus points. Barclays also lists 50% savings on eligible inflight purchases, 10% of your points back after you redeem for and travel on a JetBlue-operated award flight, and a $100 statement credit once a year after a JetBlue Vacations package of $100 or more. The foreign transaction fee is 0%.

The bonus offer is 70,000 points after you spend $1,000 on purchases and pay the annual fee in full, both within the first 90 days. The purchase APR is 19.74% to 29.74% variable, and balance transfers that post within 45 days of account opening get 0% for the first twelve billing cycles, with a 5% fee (minimum $5).

Best for status and Star Alliance: Chase Air Canada Aeroplan

The Chase Air Canada Aeroplan Card suits travelers who fly Air Canada or redeem points on Star Alliance partners. Per Chase on October 5, 2026, the annual fee is $195, and new cardmembers get automatic Aeroplan 25K Status without a spend requirement, which Chase says includes priority check-in, Zone 2 priority boarding, additional baggage allowance and eUpgrade credits.

The card earns up to 5X total points on Air Canada purchases (3X from the card plus 2X from Air Canada for 25K members), 3X on travel, 2X at grocery stores, on dining and at gas stations, and 1X elsewhere. Through December 31, 2026, grocery and dining earn 3X. It also provides up to $100 a year in Air Canada statement credits and free first checked bags for you and up to eight people on the same reservation on Air Canada flights.

The offer is two-step: 75,000 bonus points after $4,000 in purchases in the first 3 months, plus 40,000 more after $20,000 in purchases in the first 12 months. The regular APR is 19.99% to 28.49% variable. The second step needs heavy spend, so judge the card on the first step and the ongoing benefits.

Best for airport lounges: Delta SkyMiles Reserve Amex

The Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card is the premium pick, and its $650 annual fee only makes sense for people who spend real time in Delta hubs. Per American Express on October 5, 2026, Reserve Card Members get 15 visits each Medallion Year to the Delta Sky Club when flying Delta, unlimited Sky Club access after $75,000 in purchases in a calendar year, and complimentary Centurion Lounge access when they book their Delta flight with the card.

Status-focused benefits are the other half of the value: $2,500 in Medallion Qualification Dollars each year with MQD Headstart, $1 MQD for each $10 in purchases with MQD Boost, upgrade priority, and a Companion Certificate on an eligible round trip each year after renewal (taxes and fees of $22 to $250 apply). Credits include up to $240 a year at U.S. Resy restaurants, up to $120 a year on U.S. rideshare and up to $200 a year on prepaid Delta Stays, with enrollment where required.

It earns 3X on Delta purchases and 1X elsewhere, so it is not a strong everyday earner. Each Additional Reserve Card costs $175. As with the Gold card, we could not confirm the APR or welcome offer on the issuer page today.

Best no-annual-fee airline card: AAdvantage MileUp

The American Airlines AAdvantage MileUp Card is for people who want to collect AAdvantage miles and Loyalty Points without paying a fee. Per Citi on October 5, 2026, it has no annual fee and earns 2X miles on eligible American Airlines purchases and at grocery stores (including grocery delivery), and 1X elsewhere, with 25% savings on inflight food and beverages.

Citi is clear about what it does not include: no free first checked bag, no preferred boarding and no lounge access. Citi’s pricing summary also shows a 3% fee on foreign purchases, so leave it at home when you travel abroad. The current offer is 15,000 bonus miles and a $100 statement credit after $500 in purchases in the first 3 months, and the regular APR is 19.74% to 29.74% variable.

Earn rates by category

Sources: issuer card pages, checked October 5, 2026. Categories have issuer-specific definitions; check what counts as “travel,” “transit” or “grocery” before you rely on a multiplier.

Airline miles do not have a fixed cash value. What a mile is worth depends on the route, the date and the program’s pricing, so we do not assign a cents-per-mile figure to any card here. If you want a predictable return instead, compare these cards against our best cash back credit cards.

Welcome offers on October 5, 2026

Offers change frequently and eligibility rules apply. Citi bars a new AAdvantage bonus if you received one on the same card in the past 48 months; Chase restricts repeat bonuses on Southwest and Aeroplan cards within 24 months. Never spend more than you planned just to hit a bonus threshold.

What carrying a balance costs on an airline card

The cards that showed an APR on October 5, 2026 ranged from 19.49% to 29.74% variable. The Federal Reserve’s G.19 release, published September 8, 2026, put the average interest rate on credit card accounts assessed interest at 22.15% for Q2 2026, and 20.94% across all credit card accounts.

Sources: issuer card pages, October 5, 2026; Federal Reserve G.19, September 8, 2026.

Interest at these rates can quickly outweigh the value of airline perks. If you expect to carry debt, a low-rate card or a balance transfer plan comes first and airline perks second. Our guide on how credit scores work explains how utilization affects approval odds for cards like these.

Companion tickets and status perks compared

Sources: issuer card pages, checked October 5, 2026.

Which airline card fits you?

• You check bags on Delta and want the lowest first-year cost: Delta SkyMiles Gold.
• You fly American a few times a year and want lounge visits: Citi / AAdvantage Globe.
• You are a Southwest regular, or chasing Companion Pass: Southwest Priority.
• You fly Alaska or Hawaiian with a partner or family: Atmos Rewards Ascent, for the yearly companion fare.
• You live in a JetBlue city: JetBlue Plus, for 6X and the free bag at a $99 fee.
• You want status and Star Alliance redemptions: Chase Air Canada Aeroplan.
• You spend real time in Delta hubs: Delta SkyMiles Reserve, if you will use 15 Sky Club visits.
• You want miles without a fee and rarely check bags: AAdvantage MileUp.

If you fly whichever airline is cheapest, a general travel card may serve you better. Compare the travel credit cards category, or see how premium flexible-points cards stack up in Amex Platinum vs Chase Sapphire Reserve and Amex Gold vs Amex Platinum.

Sources

• Citi, Citi / AAdvantage Globe Mastercard and AAdvantage MileUp Card card pages, checked October 5, 2026.
• Chase, Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority and Air Canada Aeroplan card pages, checked October 5, 2026.
• Bank of America, Atmos Rewards Ascent Visa Signature card page, checked October 5, 2026.
• Barclays, JetBlue Plus Card card page, checked October 5, 2026.
• American Express, Delta SkyMiles Gold and Delta SkyMiles Reserve card pages, checked October 5, 2026.
• Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, G.19 Consumer Credit, released September 8, 2026.
• Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Credit card agreement database.

Fees, rewards, offers and benefits can change at any time; confirm current terms with each issuer before you apply. Approval is up to the issuer. This content is general information and is not financial advice. Money 8020 may earn a commission from some links on this site; see our disclosures.