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.
|
Chase Ultimate Rewards »
Point System
|
|
JP Morgan Chase »
Bank
|
|
$1,004 1st Year Value
|
|
60,000 Bonus Points
|
|
$4,000 Minimum Spend
|
|
1.7¢ Max Point Value
|
American Express Platinum Personal
5X | 7.7Per Dollar Spent
Flights booked directly with airlines or via American Express Travel.
|
Amex Member Rewards »
Point System
|
|
American Express »
Bank
|
|
$992 1st Year Value
|
|
80,000 Bonus Points
|
|
$8,000 Minimum Spend
|
|
1.5¢ Max Point Value
|
7X | 4.2Per Dollar Spent
Flights booked directly with airlines or via American Express Travel.
|
Hilton Honors »
Point System
|
|
American Express »
Bank
|
|
$776 1st Year Value
|
|
175,000 Bonus Points
|
|
$6,000 Minimum Spend
|
|
0.6¢ Max Point Value
|
Our Top Selections for Airfare (+)
| Multiplier | Point Value | Per $ Spent | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Chase Sapphire Reserve Purchases made with all airlines and travel portals. |
5x | 1.7¢ | 8.5¢ |
|
American Express Platinum Personal Flights booked directly with airlines or via American Express Travel. |
5x | 1.5¢ | 7.7¢ |
 |
Hilton Honors Aspire Amex 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 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
AAdvantage Executive World Elite Purchases made directly with American Airlines . |
4x | 1.3¢ | 5.2¢ |
 |
Southwest Performance Business Earn 3 points for each $1 spent on purchases made directly with Southwest Airlines. |
4x | 1.3¢ | 5.2¢ |
 |
American Express Gold Personal Earn 3x Membership Rewards points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com. |
3x | 1.4¢ | 4.2¢ |
 |
Chase Aeroplan Purchases made directly with Air Canada |
3x | 1.2¢ | 3.6¢ |
 |
Citi Premier Card Purchases from airlines & travel agencies (e.g. Expedia). |
3x | 1.1¢ | 3.3¢ |
 |
Chase Sapphire Preferred 2X points on all travel purchases. 5X on purchases made through the Chase Travel portal. |
2x | 1.6¢ | 3.2¢ |
 |
World Of Hyatt Card Earn 2 points per $1 spent on flights purchased directly from the airline. |
2x | 1.6¢ | 3.2¢ |
 |
Business Advantage Travel Rewards 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¢ |
 |
American Express Green Business Booked on AmexTravel.com |
2x | 1.4¢ | 2.8¢ |
 |
Delta SkyMiles Gold Business Purchases made directly with Delta only. |
2x | 1.2¢ | 2.4¢ |
 |
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Amex Purchases made directly with passenger airlines. |
3x | 0.6¢ | 1.8¢ |
 |
Marriott Bonvoy Bold Purchases made directly with passenger airlines. |
2x | 0.6¢ | 1.2¢ |
Cards Offering Some Value for Airfare with Limitations (-)
| Multiplier | Point Value | Per $ Spent | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
American Express Platinum Business Flights and prepaid hotels on amextravel.com |
5x | 1.5¢ | 7.7¢ |
 |
JetBlue Business Purchases made directly from JetBlue. |
6x | 1.2¢ | 7.2¢ |
 |
JetBlue Plus Purchases made directly from JetBlue. |
6x | 1.2¢ | 7.2¢ |
 |
Capital One Venture X Purchases made directly with Capital One |
5x | 1.1¢ | 5.5¢ |
 |
United Quest Card Purchases made directly with United Airlines. |
3x | 1.5¢ | 4.5¢ |
 |
American Express Business Gold When booked on AmexTravel.com |
3x | 1.4¢ | 4.2¢ |
 |
Alaska Airlines Visa Business 3x miles for purchases made directly with Alaska Airlines. |
3x | 1.3¢ | 3.9¢ |
 |
Alaska Airlines Visa Signature Purchases made directly with Alaska Airlines. |
3x | 1.3¢ | 3.9¢ |
 |
Southwest Premier Purchases made directly with Southwest Airlines |
3x | 1.3¢ | 3.9¢ |
 |
Southwest Premier Business Earn 2 points for each $1 spent on purchases made directly with Southwest Airlines. |
3x | 1.3¢ | 3.9¢ |
 |
Southwest Priority Purchases made directly with Southwest Airlines |
3x | 1.3¢ | 3.9¢ |
 |
Air France KLM World Elite purchases made directly with Air France and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines |
3x | 1.2¢ | 3.6¢ |
 |
Delta SkyMiles Platinum Business Purchases made directly with Delta. |
3x | 1.2¢ | 3.6¢ |
 |
Delta Skymiles Platinum Personal Purchases made directly with Delta. |
3x | 1.2¢ | 3.6¢ |
 |
Delta Skymiles Reserve Business Purchases made directly with Delta. |
3x | 1.2¢ | 3.6¢ |
 |
Delta SkyMiles Reserve Personal Purchases made directly with Delta. |
3x | 1.2¢ | 3.6¢ |
 |
JetBlue card Purchases made directly from JetBlue. |
3x | 1.2¢ | 3.6¢ |
 |
World Of Hyatt Business card 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¢ |
 |
British Airways Visa Signature Purchases made directly with British Airways, Aer Lingus and Iberia |
3x | 1.0¢ | 3.0¢ |
 |
United Business Card Purchases made directly with United, including tickets, Economy Plus, inflight food, beverages and Wi-Fi, and other United charges |
2x | 1.5¢ | 3.0¢ |
 |
United Club Card Business Purchases made directly with United, including tickets, Economy Plus, inflight food, beverages and Wi-Fi, and other United charges |
2x | 1.5¢ | 3.0¢ |
 |
United Club Infinite Card Purchases made directly with United, including tickets, Economy Plus, inflight food, beverages and Wi-Fi, and other United charges |
2x | 1.5¢ | 3.0¢ |
 |
United Explorer Card Purchases made directly with United, including tickets, Economy Plus, inflight food, beverages and Wi-Fi, and other United charges. |
2x | 1.5¢ | 3.0¢ |
 |
AAdvantage Aviator Red World Elite Earn 2 miles for every $1 spent directly with American Airlines. |
2x | 1.3¢ | 2.6¢ |
 |
AAdvantage MileUp card Earn 2 miles for every $1 spent directly with American Airlines. |
2x | 1.3¢ | 2.6¢ |
 |
Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select WE MC Earn 2 miles for every $1 spent directly with American Airlines. |
2x | 1.3¢ | 2.6¢ |
 |
CitiBiz AAdvantage Platinum Select Purchases made directly with American Airlines (items billed by American Airlines as merchant of record booked through American Airlines channels). |
2x | 1.3¢ | 2.6¢ |
 |
Southwest Plus Purchases made directly with Southwest Airlines |
2x | 1.3¢ | 2.6¢ |
 |
Delta SkyMiles Blue Personal Purchases made directly with Delta. |
2x | 1.2¢ | 2.4¢ |
 |
Delta SkyMiles Gold Personal Purchases made directly with Delta |
2x | 1.2¢ | 2.4¢ |
 |
Lufthansa Miles Mastercard | 2x | 1.1¢ | 2.2¢ |
 |
Hawaiian Airlines Business MC | 3x | 0.7¢ | 2.1¢ |
 |
Sonesta World Mastercard | 2x | 0.7¢ | 1.4¢ |
Best Cards For Resort Stays
Best Cards For U.S. Domestic Flights
Best Cards For Airfare Within Africa