All major commercial airlines have co-branded airline credit cards. These include airlines from the USA as well as international airlines. These cards offer rewards usually in form of miles. These cards offer rewards in form of amenities from the airlines. They make you feel like a king in the air.
Airlines credit cards are good if you are frequent traveller and prefer a particular airlines. These cards do come with annual fees. The rewards are also good if you prefer only a particular airlines. Airlines also issue business credit cards along with personal credit cards. These business credit cards make sense for a business if it involves frequent air travel for the executives.
Advantages of using co-branded airline credit cards
Airline branded credit cards can offer a number of advantages to consumers who frequently fly with a particular airline. For someone who wants to earn rewards for their travel, these could be great. Co-branded airline credit cards along with hotel credit cards offer great rewards. There are also travel focussed credit cards which offer great rewards on travel. You can read our guide on best travel credit cards here. Some of the potential benefits of using an airline credit cards include:
- Firstly, co-branded airline credit cards offer rewards points or miles for every dollar spent on the card. These points or miles can be redeemed for flights, hotel stays, car rentals, or other travel-related expenses.
- Airline co-branded Cardholders may be able to access exclusive discounts on flights. They may also receive other amenities such as priority boarding, free checked-in bags, discounted meals or drinks once onboard, and other perks.
- Some cards offer bonus rewards for spending on flights and other travel-related expenses with the airline, allowing cardholders to rack up rewards more quickly.
- These credit cards offer free access to lounges of the airlines nationally or through network lounge operators internationally.
- Finally, some high-end airline credit cards offer travel insurance if the trip is booked using the credit card. Such insurance covers the cost of trip cancellation owing to airline faults, trip delays, lost luggage insurance, and emergency evacuation coverage.
It’s important to carefully consider the terms and fees associated with an airline credit card before applying, as these cards may have higher annual fees and interest rates compared to other types of credit cards.
#1 Card Name: Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card.
Fees: $69 annual fees
APR: 19.74 – 26.74% variable APR
Rewards: Card members earn 50,000 bonus points. They have to spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. They also earn 2 points on spending $1 on Southwest airlines purchases
Our Rating: 3 / 5
Pros and Cons of this card: This card awards 3000 bonus points every year on the card member’s anniversary. Card members also earn 1 point on everyday spending of $1. Rapid Rewards card also offers other benefits such as a Companion pass. They also offer 2 Early-bird check-in every year.
This card also offer rewards in form of points on everyday purchases. Card members can earn 2 points on $1 spent. The spending categories can be on the internet, cable, streaming services, local transit, and commuting.
SouthWest airline offer 3 credit cards Rapid Rewards, Rapid Rewards Priority, and Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Cards. The difference is in the annual fees and the rewards for each of these card offers. The better the category of credit card higher the rewards and the associated fees.
#2 Card Name: United Quest Card
Fees: This card charges $250 annual fee and $0 foreign transaction fee.
APR: 20.74% – 27.74% variable APR
Rewards: Card members can earn 80,000 bonus miles on spending $5,000. They have to spend this amount in the first 3 months of the new card opening.
Our Rating: 4 / 5
Pros and Cons of this card: Credit card members get priority boarding on United Airlines flights. They also get $125 bonus credit on United Airline bookings. They earn 3x bonus miles on spending on United Airlines. Card members earn 2x miles on the spend on dining, other travel-related purchases, and streaming services. They also get first and second bags for free on United Airlines flights. Card members get upto $100 in statement credits for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or Nexus.
United offers a starting credit card United Gateway Card with a $0 annual fee. Another starting credit card is the United explorer Card with a $95 annual fee and decent rewards. Although, the top card from United Airlines is the United Club Infinite Card. This card offers 4x miles on United, 100k bonus miles, but a high annual fee of $525.
#3 Card Name: Alaska Airline Credit Card
Fees: This card has a $75 in annual fee and no foreign transaction fees.
APR: 19.74% – 27.74% variable APR
Rewards: Card members earn 50,000 bonus miles and Alaska Famous Companion Fare for $121 on making a $2,000 purchase in the first 90 days.
Our Rating: 3 / 5
Pros and Cons of this card: Card members and 6 companions get free checked bags on Alaska Airlines. Every year on the card anniversary they get an Alaska Famous Companion Fare for $121 on any flight. Card members earn unlimited 3 miles on every $1 spent on Alaska Airlines. They also earn 1 mile on every $1 purchase on other things.
There is also 20% cash back on all Alaska Airlines inflight purchases using the credit card. Finally there is flexibility with no blackout dates on Alaska Airlines using this credit cards.
#4 Card Name: Free Spirit Travel More World Elite Mastercard
Fees: This card has $0 introductory first-year annual fee and $79 in fees in subsequent years.
APR: 19.74% – 27.74% variable APR
Rewards: Card members earn 60,000 bonus points on spending $1,000. They also earn a $100 Companion Flight Voucher if they make purchases within the first 90 days of account opening.
Our Rating: 3 / 5
Pros and Cons of this card: Card members earn 3 points per $1 spending on Spirit Airlines. They also earn 2 points on eligible dining and grocery purchases. On each anniversary year they get a $100 Companion Flight Voucher. They have to meet the spending criteria of $5,000.
#5 Card Name: JetBlue Plus Mastercard from Barclays
Fees: This card charges a $99 annual fees to the card members.
APR: 0% intro APR for 12 months on balance transfers made within 45 days of account opening. After that, a variable APR will apply, 19.74% – 28.74%.
Rewards: Card members earn 40,000 bonus points. These rewards are earned after spending $1,000 and paying the annual fee in full within the first 90 days.
Our Rating: 4 / 5
Pros and Cons of this card: Firstly, card members earn 6x points on eligible purchases on JetBlue. They also earn 2x rewards on dining and grocery purchases. They also receive 4,000 bonus points on the card anniversary year. There is also a 50% savings on inflight purchases of food and drinks.
Card members get an annual $100 statement credit on purchasing a JetBlue Vacations package of $100 or more. Card members earn free first checked bags for the card member and 3 accompanied members.
#6 Card Name: Delta Skymiles Platinum American Express Card
Fees: $250 with no foreign transaction charges
APR: 19.99 – 28.99% of variable APR
Rewards: Card members earn 90,000 bonus miles and 10,000 Medallion miles on spending $3,000 in first 6 months
Our Rating: 4 / 5
Pros and Cons of this card: Card members 3x miles on purchases at Delta or hotels directly. They also earn 2x miles on dining, takeout, and groceries. Card members get first bags free and 8 companions for Delta flights using the American Express Cards.
Card members also get priority boarding on Delta flights. They also get a $100 statement credit credit for eligible spend on Global Entry or TSAPrecheck. Futher, American Express Platinum card comes with Insurance for flight delays, cars, and other travl related spends.
#7 Card Name: AAdvantage Aviator Silver Mastercard
Fees: $199 annual fee
APR: $19.74 28.74% variable APR
Rewards: 3x AAdvantage miles on every $1 spent on the card. At each anniversary year card members get 2 companion ticket for $99. They have to meet spending criteria of $20,000 on more in a year.
Our Rating: 3 / 5
Pros and Cons of this card: Card Members earn 2x AAdvantage miles spent on hotel and car rentals. They also earn $50 in wi-fi credits every anniversary year. Card members get free checking bags and preferential boarding for the card members and up to 8 companions booked in same trip. Finally, they also get $100 in statement credit for reimbursement of Global Entry or TSAPrecheck.
#8 Card Name: Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard
Fees: Free for first year and $99 after that
APR: 20.24 – 29.24% variable APR
Rewards: 2x miles on every $1 spending on American Airlines flights, restaurants, and gas stations
Our Rating: 3 / 5
Pros and Cons of this card: Card members get first checked bag free on domestic American Airlines itineraries for the card members. Further, upto 4 travel companions booked on same card. Card members get preference in boarding American Airlines flight.
Card members get $125 discount on American Airlines flight on spending $20,000 or more on the first year and renewals. Further, they get 25% savings on in-flight food and beverages purchases.
#9 Card Name: Hawaiian Airlines World Elite Mastercard
Fees: $99 in annual fee and no foreign transaction fees
APR: 19.74 – 28.74% variable APR
Rewards: Card members earn 60,000 bonus Hawaiian miles after spending $2,000 on purchases within the first 90 day. They also earn 3x miles on the Hawaiian airlines purchases
Our Rating: 3 / 5
Pros and Cons of this card: Card members earn 2x miles on gas, dining, and eligible grocery store purchases. They also earn 1x miles on all other purchases. Card members earn 2 free checked bags on the Hawaiian airlines. Finally there is a One-time 50% discount on roundtrip flights between Hawaii and North America.
#10 Card Name: Emirates Skywards Premium World Elite Mastercard
Fees: $499 in annual fee
APR: 19.74 – 28.74% variable APR
Rewards: Card members earn 40,000 miles on a new card opening. Every anniversary year members get 10,000 bonus miles on Emirates Airlines.
Our Rating: 2 / 5
Pros and Cons of this card: The primary card holder gets Gold Tier membership elevation on Emirates airlines. Card members earn 3 miles every $1 spent on Emirates airlines. They also earn 2 miles on $1 spent on travel purchases. For rest of the spend $1 spent card members earn $1.
Further, the card members get Global Travel or TSA PreCheck fee waiver. They also get Priority Pass for access to select lounges. This card is issued by Barclays Bank, and is one of very expensive cards in $499 fees for the amount of benefits. Though, Emirates is one of the best airlines when it comes to customer services. For a card member purely from a points or miles basis, this card doesn’t add that much punch.