How to Get the Best Airline Miles Credit Card
6 Min Read | Last updated: April 30, 2025
This article contains general information and is not intended to provide information that is specific to American Express products and services. Similar products and services offered by different companies will have different features and you should always read about product details before acquiring any financial product.
Looking for an airline miles credit card? Consider the different benefits and offerings to choose the best airline miles credit card for you.
At-A-Glance
- With airline credit cards, you accumulate air miles that you can redeem for flights with a specific airline or its partners.
- Many airlines offer different tiers of credit cards with varying rewards structures, fees, and welcome offers. Some offer perks such as airport lounge access or companion tickets.
- A general-purpose travel credit card may be a good alternative if you want more flexibility when choosing an airline to fly with.
If you like the idea of a free flight to your dream vacation hotspot, an airline miles credit card may help you achieve your goal. Airline miles credit cards help you accumulate points, called “air miles,” that you can redeem for free or discounted flights, although you may still need to pay the standard taxes and fees. Some airline miles credit cards also offer an array of other benefits, including a free checked bag, priority boarding, and even a “companion” ticket that lets a family member or friend fly with you.
Airline miles credit cards are a popular choice among frequent flyers. In reality, the benefits may appeal even if you travel less often and are simply looking for a way to earn free flights.
What are Airline Miles Credit Cards?
Many airlines offer airline miles credit cards in partnership with credit card companies or banks. When you use one of these credit cards for purchases, you can earn air miles in the airline rewards program you’ve joined. The value of miles varies, depending on how you redeem them. When it comes to earning miles, each airline miles credit card has its own rewards structure for how miles are earned. With some cards, you may earn air miles at a higher rate when you buy flights or other items from the airline. You can also earn air miles in other ways, including, of course, flying with the airline. Some cards may allow you to earn miles with other eligible purchases as well.
Once you’ve earned enough air miles you can redeem them for flights with the airline or within the airline’s partners, sometimes referred to as an alliance.Today, many airlines apply what’s known as dynamic reward pricing, in which the number of air miles you need for a flight depends on the dollar price that you would have to pay for that ticket. You might need anything from a few thousand air miles for a quick domestic hop to well over 100,000 miles for some international flights. Of course, you may need more miles for flying in business class or first-class as well.
5 Tips for Choosing the Best Airline Miles Credit Card
Choosing the best airline miles credit card depends on factors such as how often you travel, how and where you go, and which perks matter most to you. Here are five tips to help you choose the best airline miles credit card for your needs.
1. Pick an Airline and Alliance That Flies Where You Want to Go
When choosing your airline miles credit card, it’s vital to think about where you want to go because you may only use your air miles for flights with one airline or its partners.1 Consider which airlines service the airport nearest to your home, and which routes they fly. One airline may whisk you to your domestic or international destinations much faster and more conveniently than a competitor.
2. Consider Baggage Fees
One of the key benefits of many airline miles credit cards is that you may be able to avoid baggage fees. If you often check bags, this perk alone may offset the credit card’s annual fee. If you’re traveling as a family of four, for example, booking the flight with your credit card may save you $320 in baggage fees on a single round trip (assuming one checked bag per person, each way: 4x2x$40). But check with your card issuer to make sure free baggage benefits extend to all the members of your party. And, of course, if you tend to take short flights and bring only a carry-on bag, this credit card benefit may not save you much money.
3. Take Advantage of Welcome Offers
Some airline miles credit cards offer welcome offers, where you can earn air miles. You may need to meet a spending threshold within a specific period. In some cases, that may be enough air miles for an international flight—helping you fulfill your dream of traveling to one of your dream destinations. However, welcome offers may vary, even for the same credit card—so keep an eye open for promotional offers.
4. Analyze Which Credit Card Tier Offers the Best Deal
Once you’ve decided which airline’s credit cards best suit your needs, it’s time to look at credit card tiers.2 Airlines may offer several tiers of credit cards with varying annual fees, bonuses, and rewards. When choosing between them, it’s important to consider how well the benefits and annual fees at each credit card tier match your travel and spending goals. Basic credit cards with no annual fee accumulate air miles but may not offer some of the other key benefits of higher-tier cards.
Airline miles and travel cards (discussed below) may offer benefits such as:1,2
- A free checked bag
- Priority boarding
- No foreign transaction fees
- Car rental insurance
- Discounts or fee credits on in-flight purchases
- An annual companion ticket that lets you travel with a family member or friend, although taxes and fees may be extra
- Credits towards fees for the Global Entry program, which streamlines entry into the U.S. from abroad, and the TSA PreCheck® program, which includes priority security screening3
- Complimentary or discounted access to selected airport lounges, including food and beverages
Note that different cards have different rewards structures. Card features, benefits, and offers can vary. Be sure to check the card you’re considering carefully to see what it offers and what the terms and conditions are.
Did you know? Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express, Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express, and Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members can save 15% when booking Award Travel with miles.* Here’s how:
- Visit delta.com or the Fly Delta app and log in to your Delta SkyMiles account.
- Choose “Shop with Miles” when searching for Delta flights for your itinerary.
- The 15% miles discount will automatically be reflected.
*Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees. Terms apply.
5. Consider Alternative Types of Travel Credit Card
Although branded airline miles credit cards may suit you if you regularly fly with the same airline, they may not be as good a fit if you use a variety of airlines or if you’re looking to earn other types of rewards such as hotel stays. Alternatives include general purpose travel credit cards, which could give you more flexibility. Some of these cards allow you to earn points that you can then redeem for flights on participating carriers, hotels, and more. Some travel cards may also allow you to earn points for eligible purchases across different categories, in addition to travel expenditures. However, these credit cards may lack some of the airline-specific perks offered by airline miles credit cards.1 Other options include hotel credit cards, which can earn points toward hotel stays.
Frequently Asked Questions
Getting approved for an airline credit card will depend on several factors, including your credit score, income, and existing financial obligations. If you have a good credit history and a steady income, you may have a higher chance of being approved. However, each credit card issuer has its own criteria for approval.
Using an airline miles credit card may offer several benefits, depending on the card. Potential benefits may include earning miles for eligible purchases, enjoying travel perks like priority boarding and free checked bags, and the chance to access attractive welcome offers.
When choosing between an airline credit card and a general rewards travel credit card, there are some factors you should take into consideration before applying. Airline credit cards that are specifically affiliated with a particular airline or airline alliance and may focus on earning miles or points with that airline. General rewards travel credit cards, on the other hand, may provide more flexibility, allowing you to earn rewards that can may be redeemed across multiple airlines or travel providers. They may also offer a wider range of redemption options and benefits beyond air travel as well.
An airline credit card can be worth it, but that will depend on your travel habits and preferences. If you frequently travel with a specific airline, an airline credit card may provide valuable benefits like earning miles, priority boarding, and free checked bags. Additionally, welcome offers can also offer significant value. However, if you don’t travel often or prefer more flexibility in using rewards, a general travel credit card may be a better fit.
The Takeaway
To choose the best airline miles credit card that meets your needs, invest some time analyzing how often you travel, where you’d like to go, and which perks matter most to you. The right credit card can help whisk you off to exotic locations faster, for less money, while reducing travel-related stress.
1 "Airline Credit Cards vs. Travel Credit Cards," Experian
2 "Are Airline Credit Cards Worth It?," Experian
3 "Credit Cards and Loyalty Programs featuring TSA PreCheck®," Transportation Security Administration
Samuel Greengard has traveled to 62 countries and 49 states while writing about business, technology and finance for numerous magazines and websites. He is the author of Virtual Reality (MIT Press, September 2019).
All Credit Intel content is written by freelance authors and commissioned and paid for by American Express.
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