Airfare Rewards Credit Cards

Airfare prices may have decreased from recent peaks, but they remain among the most expensive aspects of travel, whether for a short flight to visit loved ones or a dream Euro vacation. Numerous opportunities exist to secure a good deal, such as signing up for price alerts, comparing prices between airlines, or booking well in advance. However, utilizing the appropriate credit card for booking your flights is another effective method to maximize your return on significant airfare purchases.

Top Airline Credit Cards for 2025

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

* Best for flexibility and bonus
* Annual fee: $95
* Welcome offer: Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months - worth $750 when redeemed through Chase Travel℠
* Rewards rate: 5x points on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x points on dining, select streaming services, and online groceries, 2x points on all other travel purchases, 1x points on all other purchases
* Benefits: Points are worth 25% more when redeemed for airfare, hotels, car rentals, and cruises through Chase Travel℠, Earn up to $50 in annual statement credits for hotel stays purchased through Chase Travel℠, On every account anniversary, earn bonus points equal to 10% of your total purchases made the previous year

Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card

* Best for airline rewards newbies
* Annual fee: $0
* Welcome offer: Earn 20,000 bonus miles after spending $500 within the first 3 months
* Rewards rate: 5x miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, 1.25x miles on all other purchases
* Benefits: 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 months, Transfer your miles to more than 15 travel partners, Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad

American Express® Gold Card

* Annual fee: $325
* Welcome offer: Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases in the first 6 months
* Rewards rate: 4x Membership Rewards Points at restaurants worldwide (on up to $50,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1x), 4x Membership Rewards points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1x), 3x Membership Rewards points on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com, 2x Membership Rewards points on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com, 1x Membership Rewards points on all other eligible purchases
* Benefits: Earn up to $10 in statement credits each month when you pay with your American Express Gold Card at Five Guys, Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, and Wine.com (enrollment required), Up to $100 in annual statement credits ($50 semi-annually) when you use your American Express Gold Card on eligible purchases at U.S. restaurants on the Resy app or Resy.com, Up to $84 per year ($7/month) in statement credits after you enroll and pay with your American Express Gold Card at more than 9,000 U.S. Dunkin’® locations

Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card

* Annual fee: $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150
* Welcome offer: Earn 50,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $2,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership
* Rewards rate: 2x mile on Delta purchases, at U.S. supermarkets, and at restaurants worldwide (including takeout and delivery in the U.S.), 1x mile on all other eligible purchases
* Benefits: Enjoy a $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150, After you spend $10,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, you can receive a $200 Delta Flight Credit to use toward future travel, Check your first bag free on Delta flights

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

* Annual fee: $95
* Welcome offer: Earn 75,000 miles after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months
* Rewards rate: 5x miles on hotels, vacation rentals, and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, 2x miles on all other purchases
* Benefits: Receive up to a $120 statement credit for Global Entry or TSA Precheck application fees, Receive a $50 experience credit, room upgrades, and early check-in at eligible hotels, Access Hertz's Five Star membership tier, offering free upgrades, a wider selection of vehicles, and more

The Platinum Card® from American Express

* Best for very frequent fliers
* Annual fee: $695
* Welcome offer: Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® points after spending $8,000 in the first 6 months
* Rewards rate: 5x points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel (up to $500,000 per year), 5x points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel, 1x points on all other purchases
* Benefits: Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection bookings with American Express Travel (requires a minimum two-night stay), Get up to $199 back per calendar year on your CLEAR Plus membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your card (CLEARLanes are available at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues), Enjoy up to $200 in Uber savings annually on rides in the U.S. —  that's $15 in Uber Cash for rides each month, plus a bonus $20 in December (you must have the latest version of the Uber App downloaded and your eligible American Express Platinum Card must be a method of payment in your Uber account; Amex benefit may only be used in United States)

Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® card

* Best for flying with companions
* Annual fee: $95
* Welcome offer: For a limited time, get a $0 Companion Fare (plus taxes and fees from $23) and 50,000 bonus miles after spending $3,000 within the first 90 days
* Rewards rate: 3x miles on Alaska Airlines purchases, 2x miles for gas, EV charging station, cable, streaming services, and local transit purchases, 1x miles on everything else
* Benefits: When flying on Alaska Airlines, get a free checked bag for you and up to six guests, plus enjoy priority boarding, Get a $99 Companion Fare (plus taxes and fees from $23) each account anniversary after spending $6,000 or more in the previous year, Earn a 10% rewards bonus on all miles earned from card purchases if you have an eligible Bank of America® account

Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card

* Best for Delta Air Lines
* Annual fee: $350
* Welcome offer: Earn 60,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership
* Rewards rate: 3x miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels, 2x miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets, 1x miles on all other eligible purchases
* Benefits: Receive a Companion Certificate on a Main Cabin round-trip flight within the U.S. and to Mexico, the Caribbean, or Central America each year after renewal of your Card. Terms apply. Earn up to $10 in statement credits each month after using your Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card on U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enrollment required, Check your first bag free on Delta flights

Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® Credit Card

* Best for American Airlines
* Annual fee: $0 for the first year, then $99
* Welcome offer: Earn 75,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after spending $3,500 in the first 4 months
* Rewards rate: 2x miles on restaurants, gas stations, eligible American Airlines purchases, 1x on all other purchases
* Benefits: First checked bag free on domestic American Airlines itineraries, Preferred boarding on American Airlines flights, Earn a $125 American Airlines Flight Discount after spending $20,000 or more during your card membership year and renew your card

United Quest℠ Card

* Best for United Airlines
* Annual fee: $250
* Welcome offer: Earn 70,000 bonus miles + 500 Premier qualifying points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months
* Rewards rate: 3x miles on United® purchases, 2x miles on dining, select streaming services, and all other travel, 1x miles on all other purchases
* Benefits: Free first and second checked bags + priority boarding, Up to a $125 United purchase credit and up to 10,000 miles in award flight credits each year, Earn up