Best Cards For U.S. Domestic Flights

Southwest is our favorite airline for domestic travel, so it makes sense that its top-of-the-line card is our favorite for domestic flights. The Southwest Priority credit card carries the highest annual fee among personal Southwest cards, but it is one of only two cards that allow you to book a basic fare and still select a preferred or standard seat at booking as part of the card benefits. You also have the opportunity for a complimentary upgrade to an extra-legroom seat 48 hours before departure, if available. The Southwest Performance Business card offers the same seating benefits and is a strong alternative, especially if you’re up against Chase’s 5/24 rule. Southwest also offers the Companion Pass, which allows a companion to fly with you for free plus taxes and fees. The most effective way to earn it is by opening both a personal and business card, and if timed correctly, you can hold it for nearly two full years. All Southwest cards include a free first checked bag and priority boarding in Group 5, and all cards allow free seat selection at no extra cost, with lower-tier cards unlocking seat selection 48 hours before departure instead of at booking.

American is near the top of our list of airlines for domestic award travel, and the AAdvantage Globe card is the mid-tier option we recommend for most flyers. It offers a solid signup bonus, a $99 Companion Certificate that can only be used on domestic flights, four Admirals Club lounge passes, a free first checked bag, and preferred boarding for the cardmember and up to eight companions. Since not everyone fits in this bucket, there are other options worth considering. If you fly American regularly and value lounge access, the Executive World Elite card includes a full Admirals Club membership and a higher signup bonus. If lounge access or a companion certificate isn’t important but you still want a free checked bag and priority boarding, the Platinum World Elite or the Business card are better fits. Both have their annual fee waived the first year and cost just $99 after that.

We chose the Chase Sapphire Preferred over the Reserve for several reasons, starting with the much lower annual fee. We don’t feel the Reserve offers enough domestic-flight-specific perks to justify the higher cost. With the Preferred, you still get a strong signup bonus and access to the same transfer partners that matter most for domestic airfare, including Southwest, United, and JetBlue, as well as Air Canada, Virgin, and British for partner awards. There are scenarios where the Reserve may make more sense. If you value lounge access or other non-domestic perks, the premium card could be the better fit. The Reserve also offers points boosts of up to 2x when booking through the Chase portal, compared to 1.5x on the Preferred, though those boosts aren’t consistent and shouldn’t be the primary reason to choose a card. Chase now allows you to earn the welcome offer and hold both cards at the same time, so if that fits your situation, that flexibility is worth considering.

JetBlue has a strong domestic presence, especially for travelers based on the East Coast. The airline is also known for having some of the most comfortable seating in economy and its Mint business class on transcontinental routes. The JetBlue Plus card is a solid way to supplement travel on the airline, offering a competitive signup bonus for its low annual fee, a free first checked bag, 5,000 anniversary points each year, 10% points back on award bookings, and 6x points on JetBlue purchases. If you’re up against Chase’s 5/24 rule, the JetBlue Business card offers nearly identical benefits and is a good alternative. We’d avoid the Premier card, as the benefits don’t justify the higher annual fee.

There are solid Delta redemption options for domestic travel, and the Delta SkyMiles Platinum card is the mid-tier option that delivers the most value without an astronomical annual fee, especially if you travel with a companion. The annual companion certificate is valid on domestic flights and routes between the US and Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean, and it can easily offset the annual fee when used strategically. You also receive priority boarding, a free first checked bag, and 15% off award bookings. While the Platinum is a good fit for many travelers, the Gold card may be better if you’re less loyal to Delta and want a lower annual fee with solid benefits. The Reserve card makes more sense for frequent Delta flyers who value premium perks. Business versions of the Gold, Platinum, and Reserve closely mirror their personal counterparts, so they’re worth considering if your 5/24 status is a factor.

The United Explorer card is a strong option for domestic travel, thanks to its low annual fee, which is waived the first year, a solid signup bonus, a free first checked bag, priority boarding, and two United Club one-time passes each year. The United Quest card is our backup recommendation. While its annual fee is higher, it includes a $200 United Travel credit that effectively brings the cost in line with the Explorer. The key tradeoff comes down to priorities: the Quest offers a second free checked bag, while the Explorer provides two lounge passes. Choose based on which benefit you value more. The United Club card lands in our honorable mentions and is best suited for travelers who fly United frequently and value lounge access. Its annual fee is steep, but full United Club membership can significantly improve the domestic travel experience for loyal flyers.

The Atmos Ascent card is our top choice for travelers on the West Coast. Alaska Airlines is a strong option for domestic travel, offering some of the lowest award prices on its own flights and on partners like American Airlines. The Ascent card carries a low annual fee and includes a free checked bag and $100 off an Alaska Lounge+ membership. The $99 Companion Fare and the welcome offer provide excellent first-year value, and you can earn the Companion Fare again in subsequent years after spending $6,000 on the card. We don’t recommend the higher-fee Summit card for domestic travel, as its 25,000-point Global Companion Award is better suited for international redemptions.