Are Airline Credit Cards Worth It?
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Written by
Ben Nickel-D'Andrea
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Edited by
Emily Gadd
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Reviewed by
Jasmin Baron
If you’re trying to decide between an airline versus travel credit card, you may be wondering if airline credit cards are worth it.
The short answer is yes, they can be. Some travelers are die-hard loyalists of one airline, and they’ll go out of their way to fly with them. That specific airline’s co-branded credit cards could be a good match, offering value through perks such as free checked bags and companion tickets.
Others enjoy having the freedom to choose what airline they’ll be flying on based on price or time of day. Those travelers may prefer general travel credit cards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card.
Let’s look at the benefits you might expect to help you decide if an airline credit card is worth it for you.
Main Benefits of Airline Credit Cards
It may seem like a no-brainer to get a credit card for your favorite airline, but you should weigh the pros and cons of these travel credit cards to help make a decision.
If you regularly fly with a specific airline, choosing an airline credit card may boil down to the benefits you think you’ll use. The best airline credit cards usually offer at least some of the perks below.
Free Checked Bags
One of my travel pet peeves is having to pay for extras on top of already expensive tickets. But some airline cards offer a free first checked bag when flying the airline, usually for the cardholder and a number of companions on the same reservation. This perk has the potential to save you some serious cash, especially if you frequently travel in a group.
For example, when I fly Alaska Airlines with my family, I purchase our tickets on the same reservation using my Atmos™ Rewards Ascent Visa Signature®. It offers a free checked bag to the cardholder and up to six companions on the same reservation.
And, now that Southwest no longer offers free bags to everyone, the best way to get that fee waived is by having one of the Chase Southwest credit cards, like the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card.
Priority Boarding
Cards that offer a free checked bag often include priority boarding as a perk. Priority boarding allows you to get on the plane in an earlier boarding group. For example, The New United℠ Explorer Card offers Group 2 priority boarding on United flights for the primary cardmember and companions traveling on the same reservation.
This can be valuable if you typically fly with a large carry-on bag that needs to go in the overhead compartment. Getting on board sooner gives you a better chance at finding that coveted overhead bin space and more time to get settled into your seat.
Airport Lounge Access
Having a quiet, secluded or trendy space to unwind in before my flights is something I treasure. Many airlines reserve access to their exclusive lounges for passengers flying in first or business class, but some cards can open the doors to those lounges too. These premium credit cards typically have higher annual fees, but they can be well worth the cost if airport lounge access is important to you.
For instance, the $595-annual-fee Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® comes with an Admirals Club membership that allows access to more than 100 lounges worldwide for you and your immediate family or up to two guests when flying on an eligible flight.
The New United Club℠ Card, with a $695 annual fee, will get you in the door at more than 45 United Club and partner lounges when flying on eligible flights, thanks to the United Club membership it confers.
In-Flight and Other Discounts
Most airline credit cards offer discounts, usually as a percentage back as a statement credit, when you use your card to pay for in-flight purchases like food, drinks and Wi-Fi. These savings can add up for frequent flyers.
For example, Delta credit cards such as the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card, an advertising partner, offer 20% back on in-flight food and beverage purchases. This card also includes Delta’s TakeOff 15 discount, which helps you save 15% of your miles when booking eligible award travel.
This miles discount comes in handy when I book trips for friends and family using miles, as you don’t have to be the one traveling to take advantage.
Companion Tickets
A few airline cards include an annual companion fare that allows you to bring a plus one for just the cost of taxes and fees. Depending on the card, these fares may be restricted to domestic or economy flights, but some include premium tickets and international destinations. If you regularly travel with a partner or friend, this card benefit can help you save hundreds on travel.
For example, the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, an advertising partner, has one of the best companion ticket perks out there, offering a second ticket for just the cost of government-imposed taxes and fees for round-trip tickets within the U.S., the Caribbean, or Central America in economy, premium economy or even first class.
The Delta Platinum card, while not as good, still gets you a second round-trip ticket within the U.S., the Caribbean, or Central America in economy for the cost of taxes and fees.
And the Atmos Rewards Ascent Card offers a $99 companion fare plus taxes and fees for your second ticket after spending $6,000 each anniversary year. My husband and I usually use our Alaska companion fare to fly from Seattle to Honolulu to get some sunshine during our dreadful winters, saving us a few hundred dollars in fares each year.
Elite Status and Perks
Some cards will allow you to earn elite-qualifying points for spending, including the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® (an advertising partner) and The New United Quest℠ Card.
These cards can help you get closer to elite status with the airline to enjoy additional perks like upgrades and priority service.
Airline Credit Card Drawbacks
It’s worth knowing that even great airline credit cards come with drawbacks to be mindful of. They might still make perfect sense to you as long as the benefits outweigh these cons.
Annual Fees
One of my least favorite things about airline cards, especially premium ones, is their sometimes hefty annual fees. But I’ve come to understand that, in general, if you want truly premium benefits while traveling, they generally come at a price.
If you get enough value from a card’s perks, especially if you’re a frequent flyer, you may be comfortable paying a high annual fee.
Limiting Redemptions
A drawback of getting a specific airline’s credit card is that the perks it offers won’t carry over to any of its competitors. So, forget about using your airline miles to book on another airline unless they are partners, accessing non-partner airport lounges, or getting free bags on other carriers.
High Spending Requirements
Oftentimes, airline cards will promote earning elite status just by spending on the card. While this can be done, to unlock these perks, you will need to spend multiple thousands of dollars.
For instance, the Delta Platinum card comes with a $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollar (MQD) headstart each year, and earns $1 MQD for each $20 spent on the card. Even at that rate, you’d have to spend $50,000 on the card in a year just to unlock Silver Medallion status, the airline’s lowest tier, which requires $5,000 MQDs.
Do You Need an Airline Credit Card?
The biggest consideration to think about when deciding if you need an airline credit card is whether it makes sense for your travel patterns. Keep in mind that the rewards you’ll earn from spending and the benefits you’ll receive only apply to that airline, but it can make sense if you’re a loyalist.
If you think you’re more of a free agent who looks for the best deal regardless of the airline, chances are you’ll be better served with a travel credit card that earns flexible, transferable points. Just note that these cards typically don’t offer day-of-travel perks like free checked bags and priority boarding, although some premium cards include airport lounge access.
All information about The New United℠ Explorer Card, Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®, Atmos™ Rewards Ascent Visa Signature®, The New United Club℠ Card, The New United Quest℠ Card and Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this product/card. Product details may vary. Please see issuer website for current information. CardCritics™ does not receive a commission for this product.d independently by CardCritics.
Frequently Asked Questions About Airline Cards
Is it a good idea to get an airline credit card?
Frequent travelers of a single airline are likely to get significant value from an airline credit card. If you need a leg up on your status, or could benefit from waived checked bag fees, or can use a companion ticket to make travel easier on your pocket, an airline credit card can make sense.
Are travel credit cards actually worth it?
Travel credit cards — that is, cards that are not specific to just one airline or brand — can be worth it. Consider this type of card if you’re not tied to any airline in particular and would like to get some elite-like perks regardless of who you choose to fly with. From access to lounges and travel credits, to points and miles that offer flexible redemptions, these cards could be a good match for you.
Which airline card is the best?
The best airline credit card is one that provides rewards and benefits with an airline you fly often, with an annual fee you’re willing to pay. That means you need to consider which benefits offer the most value and if they’re worth the cost.
