Best Credit Card for Airfare
If you travel for work, this is an attention-getting spend category. But even if you only take to the skies for vacation -- cards can offer a wide range of multipliers (and point values) for booked flights. So the card you use can dramatically impact the travel value you build. You can opt for a branded card like Amex Delta or the Chase United card (which require you book through the airline). Or go with more generic options like the Chase Sapphire Reserve or Amex Platinum, which offer more flexibility. The biggest factors in making the decision on which card to use comes down to (1) where you need a bonus spend and (2) Which points system you are most invested in. The (+) versions are the cards we recommend based on multiplier and signup bonus. The (-) versions are limited to select airlines, or don't include trip insurance. If you are heavily invested in a particular airline, the (-) choice still might be best in your case, but rarely (see JetBlue).
5X | 8.5Per Dollar Spent
Purchases made with all airlines and travel portals.
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Chase Ultimate Rewards »
Point System
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JP Morgan Chase »
Bank
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$1,004 1st Year Value
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60,000 Bonus Points
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$4,000 Minimum Spend
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1.7¢ Max Point Value
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5X | 7.7Per Dollar Spent
Flights booked directly with airlines or via American Express Travel.
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Amex Member Rewards »
Point System
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American Express »
Bank
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$992 1st Year Value
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80,000 Bonus Points
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$8,000 Minimum Spend
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1.5¢ Max Point Value
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7X | 4.2Per Dollar Spent
Flights booked directly with airlines or via American Express Travel.
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Hilton Honors »
Point System
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American Express »
Bank
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$614 1st Year Value
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150,000 Bonus Points
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$4,000 Minimum Spend
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0.6¢ Max Point Value
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Our Top Selections for Airfare (+)
| Multiplier | Point Value | Per $ Spent | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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Chase Sapphire Reserve Purchases made with all airlines and travel portals. |
5x | 1.7¢ | 8.5¢ |
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Amex Platinum Flights booked directly with airlines or via American Express Travel. |
5x | 1.5¢ | 7.7¢ |
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Hilton Honors Aspire Flights booked directly with airlines or via American Express Travel. |
7x | 0.6¢ | 4.2¢ |
Other Cards with Solid Value for Airfare (=)
| Multiplier | Point Value | Per $ Spent | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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Citi American Airlines AAdvantage Executive Purchases made directly with American Airlines . |
4x | 1.4¢ | 5.6¢ |
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Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business Earn 3 points for each $1 spent on purchases made directly with Southwest Airlines. |
4x | 1.3¢ | 5.2¢ |
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US Bank Business Altitude Connect On the first $150,000 in combined annual spend. |
4x | 1.1¢ | 4.4¢ |
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Amex Gold Earn 3x Membership Rewards points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com. |
3x | 1.4¢ | 4.2¢ |
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Chase Aeroplan Purchases made directly with Air Canada |
3x | 1.4¢ | 4.2¢ |
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Citi Strata Premier Purchases from airlines & travel agencies (e.g. Expedia). |
3x | 1.2¢ | 3.6¢ |
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Chase Sapphire Preferred 2X points on all travel purchases. 5X on purchases made through the Chase Travel portal. |
2x | 1.6¢ | 3.2¢ |
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World of Hyatt Earn 2 points per $1 spent on flights purchased directly from the airline. |
2x | 1.6¢ | 3.2¢ |
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Bank of America Business Travel Earn 3 points per every $1 spent on travel purchases (car, hotel, airline) booked through the Bank of America Travel Center. |
3x | 1.0¢ | 3.0¢ |
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Amex Business Green Booked on AmexTravel.com |
2x | 1.4¢ | 2.8¢ |
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Delta SkyMiles Gold Business Purchases made directly with Delta only. |
2x | 1.2¢ | 2.4¢ |
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Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Purchases made directly with passenger airlines. |
3x | 0.7¢ | 2.1¢ |
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Marriott Bonvoy Bold Purchases made directly with passenger airlines. |
2x | 0.7¢ | 1.4¢ |
Cards Offering Some Value for Airfare with Limitations (-)
| Multiplier | Point Value | Per $ Spent | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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United Gateway Purchases made directly with United Airlines. |
7x | 1.4¢ | 10.0¢ |
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Amex Business Platinum Flights and prepaid hotels on amextravel.com |
5x | 1.5¢ | 7.7¢ |
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JetBlue Business Purchases made directly from JetBlue. |
6x | 1.2¢ | 7.2¢ |
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JetBlue Plus Purchases made directly from JetBlue. |
6x | 1.2¢ | 7.2¢ |
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JetBlue Premier Purchases made directly from JetBlue. |
6x | 1.2¢ | 7.2¢ |
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Wells Fargo Autograph Journey | 4x | 1.4¢ | 5.6¢ |
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Capital One Venture X Purchases made directly with Capital One |
5x | 1.1¢ | 5.5¢ |
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Capital One Venture X Business Purchases made directly with Capital One |
5x | 1.1¢ | 5.5¢ |
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Amex Business Gold When booked on AmexTravel.com |
3x | 1.4¢ | 4.2¢ |
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Alaska Airlines Purchases made directly with Alaska Airlines. |
3x | 1.3¢ | 3.9¢ |
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Alaska Airlines Business 3x miles for purchases made directly with Alaska Airlines. |
3x | 1.3¢ | 3.9¢ |
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Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Purchases made directly with Southwest Airlines |
3x | 1.3¢ | 3.9¢ |
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Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Business Earn 2 points for each $1 spent on purchases made directly with Southwest Airlines. |
3x | 1.3¢ | 3.9¢ |
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Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Purchases made directly with Southwest Airlines |
3x | 1.3¢ | 3.9¢ |
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United Quest Purchases made directly with United Airlines. |
3x | 1.3¢ | 3.9¢ |
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Air France KLM purchases made directly with Air France and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines |
3x | 1.2¢ | 3.6¢ |
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Delta SkyMiles Platinum Purchases made directly with Delta. |
3x | 1.2¢ | 3.6¢ |
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Delta SkyMiles Platinum Business Purchases made directly with Delta. |
3x | 1.2¢ | 3.6¢ |
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Delta SkyMiles Reserve Purchases made directly with Delta. |
3x | 1.2¢ | 3.6¢ |
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Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business Purchases made directly with Delta. |
3x | 1.2¢ | 3.6¢ |
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JetBlue Purchases made directly from JetBlue. |
3x | 1.2¢ | 3.6¢ |
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World of Hyatt Business Each quarter, Chase auto-selects the top 3 spend categories for 2x points. (8 categories Incl: Digital Ads, Restaurants, Gas, Shipping, Transit, Car Rental, Airlines & Internet/Phone) |
2x | 1.6¢ | 3.2¢ |
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British Airways Purchases made directly with British Airways, Aer Lingus and Iberia |
3x | 1.0¢ | 3.0¢ |
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American Airlines AAvantage Aviator Earn 2 miles for every $1 spent directly with American Airlines. |
2x | 1.4¢ | 2.8¢ |
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American Airlines CitiBusiness Purchases made directly with American Airlines (items billed by American Airlines as merchant of record booked through American Airlines channels). |
2x | 1.4¢ | 2.8¢ |
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Citi American Airlines AAdvantage MileUp Earn 2 miles for every $1 spent directly with American Airlines. |
2x | 1.4¢ | 2.8¢ |
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Citi American Airlines AAdvantage Platinum Earn 2 miles for every $1 spent directly with American Airlines. |
2x | 1.4¢ | 2.8¢ |
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Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Purchases made directly with Southwest Airlines |
2x | 1.3¢ | 2.6¢ |
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United Business Purchases made directly with United, including tickets, Economy Plus, inflight food, beverages and Wi-Fi, and other United charges |
2x | 1.3¢ | 2.6¢ |
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United Club Business Purchases made directly with United, including tickets, Economy Plus, inflight food, beverages and Wi-Fi, and other United charges |
2x | 1.3¢ | 2.6¢ |
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United Club Infinite Purchases made directly with United, including tickets, Economy Plus, inflight food, beverages and Wi-Fi, and other United charges |
2x | 1.3¢ | 2.6¢ |
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United Explorer Purchases made directly with United, including tickets, Economy Plus, inflight food, beverages and Wi-Fi, and other United charges. |
2x | 1.3¢ | 2.6¢ |
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Delta SkyMiles Blue Purchases made directly with Delta. |
2x | 1.2¢ | 2.4¢ |
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Delta SkyMiles Gold Purchases made directly with Delta |
2x | 1.2¢ | 2.4¢ |
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Lufthansa Miles and More | 2x | 1.1¢ | 2.2¢ |
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Hawaiian Airlines Business | 3x | 0.7¢ | 2.1¢ |
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