Best Credit Cards for Airfare
Cards ranked by what they earn on flights, and how co-branded airline cards compare with flexible-points cards.
Key Takeaways at a Glance
- Co-branded perks vs. flexible bank points: Airline co-branded cards deliver tangible flight perks (free checked bags, priority boarding, companion passes), while flexible bank cards (Amex, Chase, Capital One) earn higher transferable multipliers (3x to 5x).
- The checked bag ROI equation: Checked bags cost $35 to $40 each way ($70–$80 round-trip per person). Taking just two round-trip domestic flights with a travel companion completely recoups a $95 co-branded airline card’s annual fee.
- Alliances enable global redemptions: Holding airline miles or transferable bank points allows booking flights across global alliances (Star Alliance, oneworld, SkyTeam) through partner carrier award charts.
- Dynamic pricing volatility: Major domestic carriers price their own flights dynamically. Accumulating flexible bank currencies shields you from individual airline mileage devaluations.
- Travel insurance protection: Booking flights with premium travel cards unlocks built-in trip delay reimbursement, trip cancellation coverage, and lost baggage protections.
A comprehensive guide to selecting and optimizing the best airline credit cards—comparing airline co-branded benefits against flexible transferable points, checked bag math, and airline alliance booking power.
Top credit cards ranked by airfare earn rate
Compare real-time earn rates, annual fees, and welcome offers across leading airline rewards credit cards:
United States
| Card | Issuer | Annual fee | Earn rate in this category | Rewards |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FNBO ANA Card USA Plus Credit Card | FNBO | $70 | 25% – Flight Bonus Miles | Miles |
| Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card | Amex | $550 | 7x – 7X Flights | Points |
| Barclays JetBlue Business Credit Card | Barclays | $99 | 6x – JetBlue Purchases | Points |
| JetBlue Plus Card | Barclays | $99 | 6x – JetBlue Purchases | Points |
| Citi Strata Elite℠ Card | Citi | $595 | 6x – Citi Travel Airfare | Points |
| Barclays Frontier Credit Card | Barclays | $99 | 5x – Frontier Purchases | Miles |
| U.S. Bank Altitude™ Reserve Visa Infinite® Card | US Bank | $400 | 5x – Travel Center Flights | Points |
| Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Legend Mastercard® | Citi | $695 | 5x – High Spend American Airlines Multiplier | Miles |
| Robinhood Platinum Card | Robinhood | $695 | 5% – Flight Cash Back | Cash Back |
| AmEx Platinum Card for Morgan Stanley | Amex | $895 | 5x – Flight Multiplier | Points |
| AmEx Platinum Card for Schwab | Amex | $895 | 5x – Flight Multiplier | Points |
| The Platinum Card® | Amex | $895 | 5x – 5X Flights | Points |
Canada
| Card | Issuer | Annual fee | Earn rate in this category | Rewards |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Express Aeroplan Reserve Card | Amex | C$599 | 3x – 3X Air Canada | Miles |
| American Express Aeroplan Card | Amex | C$120 | 2x – 2X Air Canada | Miles |
| WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard | RBC | C$139 | 2x – 2 Points on WestJet | Points |
| CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege | CIBC | C$599 | 2x – Air Canada Purchases | Miles |
| TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege Card | TD | C$599 | 2x – 2X Air Canada & Hyatt | Miles |
| WestJet RBC Mastercard | RBC | C$39 | 1.5x – 1.5X WestJet & Sunwing | Points |
Earn rates are shown as the issuer states them. A point, a mile, and a percent of cash back are not always worth the same, so compare the redemption value too. Data from the Pointalize card database; open a review for full terms.
Co-branded airline cards vs. flexible points cards
Frequent flyers must choose between holding an airline’s direct co-branded credit card or carrying a flexible bank rewards card:
| Card Architecture | Prominent Examples | Primary Advantages | Primary Limitations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Co-Branded Airline Cards | Delta SkyMiles Gold, United Explorer, Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select, Southwest Priority | Free first checked bag for cardholder and companions; priority boarding; 20% to 25% inflight food/drink discounts; companion certificates. | Locked into a single airline program; modest 1x to 2x earn rates on everyday non-flight spending. |
| Flexible Bank Points Cards | The Platinum Card from Amex, Chase Sapphire Reserve, Capital One Venture X | High 3x to 5x point multipliers on airfare; points transfer 1:1 to dozens of global airline partners; comprehensive travel insurance. | Does not provide free checked bags on domestic flights unless elite status is held. |
The checked bag fee mathematics
For casual travelers flying domestic carriers, a co-branded airline credit card functions essentially as an annual prepaid baggage pass:
Co-Branded Baggage ROI = (Number of Round-Trip Flights × Number of Passengers × $70 Baggage Fee) – Annual Fee
Example: A couple taking two domestic vacations per year on Delta or United saves: 2 trips × 2 passengers × $70 round-trip = $280 in saved bag fees. Subtracting the $95 card fee produces a net cash savings of $185 per year.
Furthermore, cardholders typically receive priority boarding privileges (e.g., Delta Main Cabin 1, United Group 4), ensuring you board before general basic economy and secure overhead rollaboard bin space.
Flexible bank points and alliance booking power
While co-branded airline cards shine for day-of-travel airport perks, flexible bank rewards cards (Chase Ultimate Rewards, Amex Membership Rewards, Capital One Miles) dominate on ticket purchase multipliers:
- The Platinum Card from American Express: Earns 5x points on flights booked directly with airlines or through Amex Travel (on up to $500,000 per calendar year, then 1x).
- Chase Sapphire Reserve: Earns 3x points on all flights booked anywhere in the world and 5x on flights booked through Chase Travel, backed by the industry’s premier 6-hour trip delay reimbursement insurance ($500 per passenger).
- Alliance Partner Arbitrage: By earning flexible bank points, you can transfer miles to international alliance partners (such as Air France Flying Blue, British Airways Avios, or Air Canada Aeroplan) to book domestic flights on Delta, American, or United for significantly fewer miles than those carriers charge directly.
For more strategies on flight bookings, explore our merchant guide on airline booking channels and MCC coding, our pillar guide on the 10 best airline award sweet spots, and our deep dive on navigating dynamic airline pricing. To see whether your co-brand card or flexible points card earns the highest return for every flight search, Pointalize automatically optimizes your wallet on your mobile device.
Frequently asked questions
Is a co-branded airline card better than a flexible-points card?
A co-branded card pays off when you fly one airline often and use perks such as free checked bags or priority boarding. Flexible points win when you want to choose between several airlines later.
Do airfare bonuses apply to third-party booking sites?
Some cards pay the airfare rate only when you buy directly from the airline. Online travel agencies may earn a general travel rate or none at all.
Do taxes and fees on award tickets earn airfare rewards?
Usually yes, because they are charged by the airline. Paying them with a card that has trip protection can also extend that protection to the award trip, depending on the card terms.
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