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Airline Credit Cards
Airlines credit cards are a popular type of rewards card suited for frequent flyers, business travelers, and all-around jet-setters. These cards are designed to rack up airline miles quickly every time you spend, and are redeemable for flights on a specific airline or as points to apply to any ticket purchase. Airline cards often come with bonus miles to build up to your first flight sooner.
These rewards cards are recommended only if you pay off your balance in full every month. They tend to have a higher interest rate, which means you'll be paying many times over in interest for the airline miles you accumulate. While airline credit cards could save you lots of money if you travel frequently, be smart and only apply if you are a responsible cardholder.
Recommmended just for you
Chase SapphireSM Card
- Earn 10,000 bonus points after you spend $500 in the first 3 months – that's $100 toward travel or any other reward!
- 2 points per dollar spent at restaurants & 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases.
- Points never expire and there are no limits on how many points you can earn
- Redeem points for travel, gift cards, merchandise, cash back and more
- Direct access to expert service advisors anytime
- No annual fee!
Why we recommend it...
The Chase Sapphire Credit Card is one of the highest-rated airline and travel rewards credit cards available for high-spending, excellent credit consumers, and for good reason. Chase Sapphire is designed specifically for big spenders who want to earn maximum travel rewards, and offers double points for airfare booked through Chase’s Ultimate Rewards program. Cardholders also earn 1 point for every dollar spent on all purchases. Points are refreshingly unrestricted, with no limits, no expiration, and can be redeemed for travel, gift cards, merchandise, cash back, and more. A bonus feature to put jetsetters and high rollers at ease is Chase’s premier travel and purchase protection benefits, including a dedicated 24/7 live service representatives who will assist cardholders with their needs.
This is an airlines card to be envied, especially because it has no annual fee and offers $100 in bonus rewards -- or 10,000 points -- after spending $500 in your first three months. If you want an airline and travel rewards card to maximize rewards on your high-spending habits, Chase Sapphire is the first card you should consider to take with you anywhere.
Pros:
- No annual fee
- Double points for airfare booked through Chase program
Cons:
- Excellent credit needed
Credit Score Approval Data †
739
Average Credit Score Approved for this Card
680
Lowest Credit Score Approved for this Card
Capital One® VentureSM Rewards Credit Card
- 2 miles per dollar on every purchase, every day
- Money® Magazine's "Most Rewarding Card if you crave free airline flights" – Money Magazine, May 2011
- Earn 10,000 bonus miles when you spend $1,000 within the first 3 months, equal to $100 in travel
- Redeem your miles for any travel expense
- No limit on the miles you can earn and miles don’t expire
- Fly on any airline, any time with no blackout dates
- No foreign transaction fees
- $0 intro annual fee for the first year; $59 after that
Why we recommend it...
This card offers an excellent, easy-to-navigate airline miles reward program for good credit cardholders looking to seriously bulk up on their travel time. Aptly named the Venture Rewards card, it takes all the fuss out of complicated reward-earning terms and gives optimal flexibility and options when managing and redeeming points. Earn miles faster with a simple and generous 2 miles for every dollar spent, and you never have to worry about blackout dates, seat restrictions, or being limited to specific carriers to redeem your miles.
The Venture Rewards card Cap One also provides improved customer service benefits with new exclusive award-winning customer service and Visa Signature benefits like complimentary concierge and travel upgrades.
Pros:
- 2 miles per dollar on every purchase, every day
- First year's annual fee is waived.
Cons:
- Need Excellent Credit to qualify
- Annual Fee
Credit Score Approval Data †
725
Average Credit Score Approved for this Card
649
Lowest Credit Score Approved for this Card
Additional airline credit cards
Miles by Discover® Card
- Earn 10,000 Bonus Miles with every $2,000 spent – up to 20,000 Bonus Miles
- 1 Mile on every $1 you spend - Plus flexible redemption options like travel credits, merchandise, gift cards or cash
- 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 6 months, then the variable purchase APR of 10.99% - 16.99%
- No restrictions on travel--fly on any airline, book any hotel or car, with no blackout dates
- Travel benefits include secondary collision damage insurance when you rent a car with your Miles by Discover card
- Discover is ranked #1 in customer loyalty--16 years in a row! (2012 Brand Keys Customer Loyalty Engagement Index report)
- Great rewards with no annual fee, no rewards redemption fee, and no additional card fee
- *Click apply to view rates, fees, rewards, limitations and other important information
Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card - FREE FLIGHT
- NOW! Earn a FREE FLIGHT after your first purchase.
- Get 3,000 Points every year on your Card member Anniversary - that's equal to $50 toward a Wanna Get Away® Fare
- Now you can redeem for International Travel, Hotels, Gift Cards and more.
- Earn unlimited FREE FLIGHTS - 2 Points per $1 Spent on Southwest Purchases and 1 Point per $1 Spent on EVERYTHING else
- Your Bags Fly FREE! No Blackout Dates, Points Don’t Expire, and Unlimited Reward Seats!
- No Change fees – if you need to change your flight, you won’t be charged a fee.
- September 11th Security Fee Applies
Blue Sky from American Express®
- 7,500 bonus points when you spend $1,000 within 3 months – redeemable for a $100 statement credit.
- No annual fee
- Travel rewards with no blackout dates or travel restrictions. Redeem with any airline, any car rental, any hotel – anytime.
- Pay your bill all at once, or over time. It's up to you.
- Blue Savings Program: big deals on big brands, all the time
- Get a decision in as little as 60 seconds.
* See the online Provider's credit card application for details about terms and conditions. Reasonable efforts are made to maintain accurate information. However all credit card information is presented without warranty. When you click on the "Take Offer" button, you can review the credit card terms and conditions on the provider's website.
† Credit Karma members have received approvals with these TransUnion New Account credit scores. These approval metrics are only guidelines and approval is not guaranteed. You can learn more about credit card approval through our in-depth article.
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