✈️ Best Airline Credit Cards of 2025
Find the right travel card for your airline, your budget, and your lifestyle.
At Creditvana, we believe the best airline credit card is the one that actually fits your life. That means:
-
It works with the airlines you fly most.
-
The perks and rewards justify the annual fee.
-
It helps you get more from every mile, every trip, and every dollar.
Whether you’re loyal to a specific carrier or want flexibility to fly anyone, we’ve ranked the top airline credit cards to help you fly smarter.
🔍 How to Choose the Right Airline Credit Card
Before diving into the top picks, here’s what to consider:
-
Fly one airline most of the time? A co-branded airline card may be your best bet — especially for perks like free checked bags, priority boarding, and status boosts.
-
Use multiple airlines? A general-purpose travel card with flexible points and transfer partners may give you more value.
-
Not a frequent flyer? A no-annual-fee card or one with a low fee can still help you earn miles for the occasional trip.
🏆 Our Top Airline Credit Cards — September 2025
Here are the top-rated cards, along with their best uses:
Card | Best For | Annual Fee |
---|---|---|
Chase Sapphire Preferred® | Flexible redemption & big bonus | $95 |
Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ | Booking with any airline | $95 |
United℠ Explorer Card | United Airlines flyers | $150 (waived year 1) |
Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® | American Airlines loyalty | $99 (waived year 1) |
Delta SkyMiles® Gold Amex | Delta flyers | $150 (waived year 1) |
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority | Southwest perks | $229 |
Atmos™ Ascent Visa Signature® | Alaska Airlines travelers | $95 |
JetBlue Plus Card | JetBlue rewards & perks | $99 |
AAdvantage® MileUp® | Best no-annual-fee airline card | $0 |
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Amex | Best premium airline card | $650 |
Aeroplan® Credit Card | Best international airline card | $95 |
💼 General-Purpose Travel Cards
🟦 Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Best for: Flexible travel rewards, top-tier transfer partners
-
Annual Fee: $95
-
Bonus Offer: 75,000 points after spending $5,000 in 3 months
-
Why It Stands Out: Earns 5x on Chase travel, 3x on dining/streaming. Transfer points to airlines like United, Southwest, JetBlue, and more.
👉 Full review: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
🟩 Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card
Best for: Booking directly with airlines
-
Annual Fee: $95
-
Bonus Offer: 60,000 points after $4,000 in 3 months
-
Why It Stands Out: 4x on airfare booked directly with airlines, 5x on hotels. Great flexibility without being tied to a single carrier.
👉 Full review: Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠
🛫 Best Airline-Branded Cards by Airline
🟥 United℠ Explorer Card
Best for: United Airlines
-
Annual Fee: $0 intro, then $150
-
Bonus Offer: 60,000 miles after $3,000 in 3 months
-
Key Perks: Free checked bag, 2 lounge passes, TSA PreCheck®/Global Entry credit
👉 Full review: United℠ Explorer Card
🟦 Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select®
Best for: American Airlines
-
Annual Fee: $99 (waived year 1)
-
Bonus Offer: 80,000 miles after $3,500 in 4 months
-
Key Perks: Free bag, priority boarding, Loyalty Points for elite status
👉 Full review: Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select®
🟨 Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express
Best for: Delta flyers
-
Annual Fee: $0 intro, then $150
-
Bonus Offer: 80,000 miles after $3,000 in 6 months (Ends 10/29/25)
-
Key Perks: Free checked bag, 2x miles at restaurants and grocery stores
Terms apply
👉 Full review: Delta SkyMiles® Gold Amex
🟥 Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority
Best for: Frequent Southwest flyers
-
Annual Fee: $229
-
Bonus Offer: 100,000 points after $4,000 in 5 months
-
Key Perks: $75 annual credit, 7,500 anniversary points, free bags, early boarding
👉 Full review: Southwest Priority Credit Card
🟩 Atmos™ Rewards Ascent Visa Signature®
Best for: Alaska or Hawaiian Airlines
-
Annual Fee: $95
-
Bonus Offer: 80,000 points + $99 Companion Fare after $4,000 in 120 days
-
Key Perks: Companion ticket, free checked bag, elite status boost
👉 Full review: Atmos™ Ascent Visa
🟦 JetBlue Plus Card
Best for: JetBlue flyers
-
Annual Fee: $99
-
Bonus Offer: 60,000 points after $1,000 + fee in first 90 days
-
Key Perks: Free bags, Mosaic status tiles, 6x points on JetBlue flights
👉 Full review: JetBlue Plus Card