Airline Credit Cards

This is the entry-level Chase Southwest card and has the lowest annual fee of the three. Get 2x points on Southwest flights and 3,000 points per card anniversary in exchange for your annual fee each year.

Note: Our rewards calculator and Estimated Rewards Values assume all of your "Airfare" is on Southwest and is therefore counted at 2x points. If you also fly another carrier, you will only earn 1x points for those purchases.

A mid-level personal Southwest card with a modest annual fee. Get 6,000 points per card anniversary and 2x points on Southwest flights.

Note: Our rewards calculator and Estimated Rewards Values assume all of your "Airfare" is on Southwest and is therefore counted at 2x points. If you also fly another carrier, you will only earn 1x points for those purchases.

This premium-level Southwest card comes with extra benefits for loyal Southwest flyers. Get 7,500 points, a $75 Southwest credit, and 4 upgraded boarding positions each card anniversary.

Note: Our rewards calculator and Estimated Rewards Values assume all of your "Airfare" is on Southwest and is therefore counted at 2x points. If you also fly another carrier, you will only earn 1x points for those purchases.

This United card offers a free checked bag for you and a travel companion (must pay with card) and priority boarding. You get two one-time United Club passes per card year, the Luxury Hotel and Resort Collection, and access to both Inside Access events and United MileagePlus Events. You earn 2x at restaurants, hotels purchased directly, and, of course, United. You can earn a PQD status waiver with $25,000 spend and, best of all, this card entitles you to expanded saver award availability on United flights.

NOTE: Our rewards calculator and Estimated Rewards Values assume all "Airfare" is on United and is therefore counted at 2x points. If you also fly another carrier, you will only earn 1x points for those purchases and your Reward Values would be lower than indicated.

Get a free checked bag and preferred boarding on American Airlines. Earn 2x AAdvantage miles at gas stations and restaurants, as well as on American Airlines. Also earn a $100 flight discount after spending $20,000 and renewing your card.

NOTE: In calculating your potential rewards for this card, we are assuming that all spend entered as "Airline" is on American Airlines. If some of your airline spend is on other airlines, that spend will earn 1x rather than 2x miles and reduce your expected rewards.

Get full Admirals Club Membership for the primary cardholder, plus Admirals Club access for authorized users. Get a free checked bag for you and up to 8 companions on the same record, priority boarding, priority check-in, and priority screening (screening where available).

Earn American Airlines AAdvantage miles, and earn a bonus of 10,000 EQMs (towards elite qualification) in any calendar year you spend $40,000 on the card.

NOTE: In calculating your potential rewards for this card, we are assuming that all spend entered as "Airline" is on American Airlines. If some of your airline spend is on other airlines, that spend will earn 1x rather than 2x miles and reduce your expected rewards.

This card earns 3x Avios on British Airways, Iberia, LEVEL, and Air Lingus.

Earn a Travel Together Ticket, good for bringing a companion for just the taxes and fees when you redeem a reward flight for yourself, when you spend $30,000.

NOTE: In calculating your rewards for this card, we are making the assumption that all airfare entered is spent on British Airways, Iberia, LEVEL, and Aer Lingus. If part of that spend is on other airlines, that spend will earn only 1x on this card, reducing the value of your rewards.

ALSO: While the bonus offer can net you up to 100,000 bonus Avios, we only count the first 50,000 in our calculations because of the steep spend requirement to receive the full 100,000.

Get an annual companion certificate in any cabin class and Delta Sky Club Access, plus your first checked bag free and priority boarding on Delta.

Earn bonus Medallion Qualifying Miles (MQMs) and bonus miles at tiered spending thresholds. Spending $25,000 in a year on this card will waive the MQDs requirement for Medallion qualification up to Platinum status.

NOTE: Our rewards calculator and Estimated Rewards Values assume all "Airfare" is on Delta and is therefore counted at 2x points. If you also fly another carrier, you will only earn 1x points for those purchases and your Reward Values would be lower than indicated.

While not a card typically on most people's radar, this card and its sister, the Avianca Vida card, are an interesting proposition for two reasons.

1) The Welcome offer essentially allows you to buy 40,000 LifeMiles for the $149 annual fee, or less than half a cent per mile.

2) Many people have been locked out of the more conventional program's affiliated cards, for reasons such as Chase's 5/24 rule. This card is issued by Banco Popular.

NOTE: Our rewards calculator and Estimated Rewards Values assume all "Airfare" is on Avianca and is therefore counted at 2x points. If you also fly another carrier, you will only earn 1x points for those purchases and your Reward Values would be lower than indicated.

Get an annual main cabin "Buy One, Get One" companion certificate, plus your first checked bag free and priority boarding on Delta.

Earn bonus Medallion Qualifying Miles (MQMs) and bonus miles at tiered spending thresholds. Spending $25,000 in a year on this card will waive the MQDs requirement for Medallion qualification up to Platinum status.

NOTE: Our rewards calculator and Estimated Rewards Values assume all "Airfare" is on Delta and is therefore counted at 2x points. If you also fly another carrier, you will only earn 1x points for those purchases and your Reward Values would be lower than indicated.