The Best Airline Miles Credit Cards
If you tend to fly on one favorite airline, using an airline miles credit card for the specific carrier can be a great way to maximize your airline spending. Finding the best airline miles credit card to match your favorite airline can net you free tickets to fly, miles that can be used towards car rentals and hotels, upgrades, free bag checking, and more!
Keep in mind you need to responsibly spend and pay off your credit card bill monthly in order to truly make the most of your airline miles. Keep in mind too, most airline miles cards have an annual fee (some waive the fee the first year). You will find that if you take advantage of the benefits of the card, the fee is well made up for. Done right, you can turn your everyday spending into airline miles and reduce the cost of your flying and possibly take advantage of special perks as well.
Take a look at the following airline miles cards and see which airline mile credit card best fits your needs.
Gold Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card from American Express
To start you off on miles, the Gold Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card credit card offers you 20,000 bonus miles for your first purchase. You can earn an additional 5,000 miles signing up for two additional cards (think spouse and child in college). You can use your SkyMiles to pay for any Delta seat without blackout dates or restrictions. You’ll earn one mile for every dollar you spend. The first bag you check will be free on every Delta flight. The first year’s annual fee is waived for new cardholders ($95/year afterward).
Click through for Platinum Delta SkyMiles and Delta Reserve details.
Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card
You’ll earn 20,000 points towards a free flight after your first purchase. Flights have no blackout dates, the point have no expiration, and there are unlimited rewards seats. This new program allows you to redeem your points for international travel too. How are points earned? You earn 2 points for every $1 spent on all Southwest Airlines purchases. You’ll also earn 2 points for every $1 spent on Southwest Rapid Rewards Hotel and Car Rental Partner purchases. All other purchases earn 1 point per dollar spent. Check this bonus – Every year on your card sign-up anniversary you will get 3,000 bonus points. Balance Transfer Bonus: For every $1 you transfer to your Rapid Rewards Plus card you earn 1 point up to $10,000. You must do this in the first 90 days for the points to qualify. The card has an annual membership fee of $69.
Citi® Gold/AAdvantage® World MasterCard®
You have the opportunity to earn 30,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after you make $750 in purchases in your first four (4) months. This can already earn you a round-trip domestic travel award! For every $1 spent you earn 1 AAdvantage® mile. The miles never expire and there are no blackout dates for American Airlines, American Eagle, and AmericanConnection® carriers. The $50 annual fee on the card is waived for the first year.
Continental Airlines OnePass® Plus Card
With this Continental card you earn a quick $50 back after your first purchase (statement credit). That first purchase will also get you 25,000 bonus miles, enough for a round-trip reward ticket. Nice start! You can earn an additional 5,000 points by adding an authorized user to your account. When using the card, your first bag will be checked free on Continental flights (this is good for up to 8 passengers flying with the cardholder). You’ll earn double miles when you use your card to buy Continental flights. All other purchases earn you one mile per $1 spent. A nice extra bonus is you earn 2 annual passes to the Continental Presidents Club®. If you spend $25,000 for the year with the card you earn an additional 10,000 miles. The annual fee for the card is $85 which is waived for the first year. (Review)
United Mileage Plus® Signature® Visa Card
You will get a $50 statement credit after you make your first purchase. Earn 25,000 bonus miles after you spend $250 once you’ve opened your account. This is already worth a round-trip Saver Award ticket to anywhere in the United States. Once you’ve spent your first $250, add an authorized user for 5,000 bonus miles. After your first purchase, you earn a one-way upgrade certificate and a $25 travel certificate. With this card you earn 1 mile for every $1 you spend with your card, and there is no limit to the amount of miles you can earn. The annual fee for the United Mileage Plus® Signature® Visa Card is waived for the first year (otherwise $60).
JetBlue TruBlue Credit Card from American Express
You’ll earn 10,000 points after your first purchase. Spend just $500 in the first three months and you will get another 10,000 bonus points. Keep in mind that OneWay Award Flights start at just 5,000 points! You earn 6 points for every $1 spent on JetBlue flights at jetblue.com. When you use your card you earn an additional 2 points (that’s 8 points when you use your card). There are no blackout dates when you redeem your points, the points don’t expire, and you can redeem for any available seat. TrueBlue also offers up a number of additional ways to earn bonus points as well as benefits. The annual fee for this card is $40.
Blue Sky(SM) Preferred from American Express
This isn’t an airline miles card, as the points you earn aren’t for any one particular airline. In fact the points are good for any airline. The benefits are well-worth checking out. You can say the Blue Sky (SM) card is an airline miles card for any carrier, which is great if you fly but don’t stick with any particular airline. You get 7,500 bonus points after your first $500 in spending. These can be redeemed for a $100 statement credit, applied towards airline tickets or hotel stays, and more. The card carries a $100 Airline Allowance which you get to apply towards incidental airline charges like baggage fees, flight meals, flight entertainment, and such. You’ll earn double points on eligible hotel, dining, and car rental purchases. Points are 1 for every $1 spent on everything else. As I mentioned above, the points are good for any airline, hotel, cruise, or car rental. Point redemption has no blackout dates, expiration, or cap limits. There is a $75 annual fee for this card (remember though, you can use the points on any airline). Oh, and you also get 0% intro APR on purchases for up to 12 months.
Citi ThankYou(SM) Premier Card
Here’s another card that isn’t a strict airline miles card but the benefits are well-worth looking at. You get 20,000 ThankYou®Points when you make $1000 in purchases in the first three (3) months. That’s enough to redeem for $200 in gift cards! You’ll earn 1.2 (yes that .2 is correct) points per $1 spent at gas stations, supermarkets, drugstores, parking merchants, and commuter transportation. You earn 1 point for every other $1 spent. There is no points cap and no point expiration. On your card anniversary you will earn bonus points based on how long you have had the card.
Ok, but why is this listed in best airline mile credit cards? I’ll tell you. You earn points for the miles you fly when you purchase your ticket with your card. There are no foreign transaction fees on purchases made with your card (great for traveling overseas). Cardholders receive an annual complimentary domestic companion ticket. And, you get a 15% discount on all flights booked with your card through their travel benefits provider, Spirit Incentives. The annual fee for this card is $125, and it is waived for the first year.
Remember – The best way to take advantage of these offers is to use your credit card responsibly. If you are carrying credit card debt with a high APR then you may end up paying more in interest than you would get in mile/point benefits.
If you want more of a general travel rewards card then check out The Best Airline Miles Credit Cards.
What do you think is the best airline miles credit card?
*As you always should, make sure you read through the card details to make sure this card fits your needs and you understand the terms and conditions. Be aware that the terms may change after this article’s publication.
“Disclaimer: This content is not provided or commissioned by American Express. Opinions expressed here are author’s alone, not those of American Express, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by American Express. This site may be compensated through American Express Affiliate Program.”
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The Best Airline Miles Credit Cards
Originally posted here: The Best Airline Miles Credit Cards
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