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Credit Cards for Frequent Airlines Travelers
In the past, most cobranded airline-bank credit cards offered a simple concept of earning air carrier frequent flyer program miles. After collecting enough miles, a customer could redeem those miles for a free ticket.
This model had its limitations and drawbacks: blackout dates and seat restrictions. Moreover, recent frequent flyer program terms changes dropped a shadow on the idea of air miles rewards.
In recent years, the game has changed. Now airline cards are competing with general travel cards that offer flexible reward points that can be either transferred to one of many frequent travelers programs or used as a statement credit to offset travel expenses.
In this competition, airline cards are still attractive for some customers, with many of them offering airline specific perks like a free first bag checked in, companion fare coupons, in-flight discounts, and priority boarding.
Let’s have a look at the best airline credit cards:
| regular APR | |
- get 30,000 miles bonus after spending $1,000 in the first 3 months
- get $50 statement credit if you make Delta purchase in the first 3 months
- 2x miles on Delta purchases
- 1 mile for $1 on other purchases
excellent required
Gold: $95 annual fee, waived for the first year
Platinum: $195 fee
Reserve: $450 fee
Delta benefits
| regular APR | |
- 50,000 AAdvantage bonus miles for spending $3,000 in the first 3 months
- 2 Admiral's Club lounge One-Day Passes
- 5% bonus on miles on annual renewal
- Companion Certificate each year if you spent $30,000
- Additional American Airlines travel benefits
excellent required
$95 annual fee, waived for the 1st year
up to 2 miles/$1
50,000 sign-up bonus
lots of AAirlines travel perks
| regular APR | |
- 3 miles per $1 on Alaska purchases and vacation packages
- 1 mile/$1 on all the rest
- 30,000 miles after your first purchase on the card
- Coach Companion Fare as an annual bonus
- Alaska Airlines miles are one of the most valuable among air carrier programs
excellent required
annual fee: $50 per company+$25 per card or $75 per card
up to 3 Alaska Airlines miles per $1 spent
Alaska Airlines miles value is up to 2 cents each
| regular APR | |
- 10,000 miles after first card purchase
- 2 miles per $1 on Asiana purchases
- 1 mile/$1 on all purchases
excellent required
$80 annual fee
2 miles/$1 on Asiana purchases
1 mile/$1 on all purchases
10,000 miles sign up bonus
| regular APR | |
- 2x miles on Korean Air purchases
- get 15,000 miles after first purchase
basic card $50 annual fee
signature card $80 annual fee
no foreign transaction fee
Mostly, airline cards charge you an annual fee ranging from $19 on a Spirit cobranded card to a $450 for a luxury pack of benefits on Delta SkyMiles Reserve. In return, you get a sign-up bonus after a first purchase or upon spending a qualifying sum on the card in the first month of the account. It is wise to consider if you are willing to qualify for the bonus before applying for the card.
Airline specific perks can be useful, with some of them offering really nice packages with free VIP lounge access around the world, companion ticket certificates, and additional benefits.
However, if you do not travel one preferred airline but would rather shop around for the best prices and connections, most of these benefits will be not relevant to you. Many airline frequent programs allow you to transfer your frequent flier miles to partner airlines, so sometimes it is useful to check all available options before redeeming miles for tickets. More opportunities to save arise when you consider that different airlines calculate fees and tax portions of the ticket (which you pay even if you use miles) differently.
It is always wise to mention that if you carry a balance on the card, you’d better find a low APR card instead. The interest you pay to the bank on your debt is much more than all the rewards and benefits games.
If you have an imperfect credit score or are new to credit and it is difficult for you to get approved for a credit card, there are also secured cards with good airlines rewards - Aero Mexico secured card is a good example.
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