Updated: 9/12/2023 | September 12th, 2023
After over 15 years of traveling the world, I’ve lost count of how many free flights and upgrades I’ve had. By collecting points and miles, I’ve been able to enjoy free flights, free hotel stays, upgrades, lounge access, and more — all without any extra spending.
One of the main tools that has helped me accomplish this is having a points-earning airline credit card.
While the perks of airline cards aren’t often as impressive as high-end travel cards (like the card_name, for example), you always want to have the card of a few airlines so you have free bags, extra points per dollar spent, lounge access, and more.
Airline credit cards are pretty straightforward: they are co-branded cards meant to incentivize users to stay loyal to one airline. By giving you extra points when you spend with airlines as well as bonuses when you hit certain spending milestones, airlines want you to use their card as often as possible.
There are two rules to know when picking an airline credit card: first, always get the card of the airline you fly the most. You always want the perks that come with it. Second, when looking for a new card, go with the biggest bonus. Once you have the card of your favorite airline, when you want another, find one that has a big bonus since you’re just using it for the points for a free flight not because you’re loyal.
With every airline having more than a few card options to pick from, I laid out my favorite card for each airline below.
The Best Airline Credit Cards for…
- American Airlines: Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®
- Delta: card_name
- Southwest: card_name
- United: card_name
Below, you’ll find a detailed review of each card, including the perks and cost, so you can pick the best airline credit card for your travel style and budget.
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier
The card_name is best for domestic U.S. travelers, as Southwest does not fly to a ton of international destinations. But the high welcome offer compared to a relatively low spend and other Southwest perks make this a solid choice if you fly within the U.S. a lot or to Mexico and the Caribbean frequently. It has a $99 annual fee so it’s quite affordable too.
When you sign-up for the card, you get:
- Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months
- 3x points on Southwest purchases
- 2x points on internet, cable, phone services, and select streaming
- 2x points on local transit and commuting, including ridesharing
- 2x points on Rapid Rewards hotel and car partners (includes Best Western, Hyatt, Marriott, Avis, and Hertz, among others)
- Two EarlyBird Check-Ins each year
- 6,000 anniversary points each year
- 10,000 Companion Pass® qualifying points boost each year
- No foreign transaction fees
While the Premier is the best Southwest card, if you want a cheaper option, the card_name is a great card and is just $69.
Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express
I like this card for the double points earned when booking directly with Delta. This is a great card for earning free flights (even if you’re not flying all the time like I am). If you’re a casual Delta flier or live near one of their hubs (including ATL, JFK, LAX, SLC, and DTW), this is a great choice for a low-fee Delta card. $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $99. (Rates & Fees.)
When you sign-up for the card, you’ll get:
- Earn 40,000 bonus miles after you spend $2,000 in purchases in your first 6 months
- 2x points on Delta purchases
- 2x points at U.S. supermarkets, takeout, and delivery, and at restaurants worldwide
- Free checked bag
- $100 Delta credit (after $10,000 in purchases per calendar year)
- 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app
- No foreign transaction fees
Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express
card_name is an upgraded version of the Gold. It comes with a $250 annual fee (rates & fees) but, if you’re a more frequent Delta flier, it’s probably worth it (it is for me). You’ll earn even more points on each Delta purchase, get credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®, one free companion flight per year, and access to (pay for) the Delta lounges (until 1/1/24, when this benefit will be disappearing).
When you sign for this card, you get:
- Earn 50,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 in purchases in your first 6 months
- 3x points on Delta purchases
- 3x points on hotels (when booked directly)
- 2x points at U.S. supermarkets, takeout, and delivery, and at restaurants worldwide
- Free checked bag and priority boarding
- Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year upon renewal
- Credit for TSA PreCheck® or Global Entry (every 4 years)
- $50 per person (up to 2 guests) per visit to enter the Delta Sky Club® when traveling on a Delta flight (until 1/1/24, when this benefit will no longer be available)
- Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app
- No foreign transaction fees
If you love these perks but want a Delta card that offers unlimited complimentary lounge access (at least until 2/1/25, when you’ll get 10 visits per year), check out the card_name. It’s $550 a year (rates & fees) but is the top-tier choice for Delta loyalists who want lounge access.
Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®
For frequent fliers of American Airlines, Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® offers 2x points on American Airlines purchases and includes a lot of perks when you actually fly, such as priority check-in, preferred boarding, free checked bags, and more. A lot of the perks apply to your traveling companions too, making this a good card if you often travel with friends or family. It has a $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $99 per year after that.
When you sign up for this card, you get:
- Earn 50,000 American Airlines AAdvantage(R) bonus miles after spending $2,500 in purchases within the first 3 months
- Access to nearly 50 lounge locations worldwide for you and your immediate family (or up to 2 traveling guests that accompany you).
- Priority check-in (where available)
- 2x points on American Airlines purchases
- Preferred boarding (after priority boarding but before economy boarding)
- First checked bag free on domestic flights (for you and up to 8 companions traveling on the same reservation)
- Earn 10,000 additional Loyalty Points (after you spend $40,000 in the qualifying status year)
- No foreign transaction fees
United ExplorerSM
United Explorer is a great all-around card for anyone who regularly flies United. As with all airline-specific cards, there are a variety of benefits to take advantage of when flying United flights. This is a solid option if your home airport is a United hub (there are 8 hubs in the U.S., including Newark, SFO, LAX, O’Hare, and Dulles). The fee is waived the first year and it’s just $95 annually after that.
When you sign-up for the card, you get:
- 60,000 points (after spending $3,000 in the first 3 months)
- 2x points on United purchases
- 2x points on dining
- 2x points on hotels when booked directly
- Free first checked bag for you and a companion
- Priority boarding
- 2 United Club passes per year
- $100 credit for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck®
- 25% back on United inflight purchases
- No foreign transaction fees
- 500 PQP for every $12,000 you spend (up to 2x per year)
United QuestSM
The card_name card is the upgraded version of the Explorer, making it the best card for die-hard United fans. While it has a hefty price tag of $250 per year, if you’re a regular United flier the perks more than make up for it (the $125 annual credit cuts that fee in half right off the bat). While there is no lounge access included, the free checked baggage alone can save you a fortune, making this a must-have airline card.
When you sign-up for the card, you get:
- 60,000 bonus miles and 500 PQP (after spending $4,000 in purchases in the first 3 months)
- $125 credit each year on United purchases
- 3x points on United purchases (after your $125 United credit)
- 2x points on travel (includes airfare, cruises, hotels, car rentals, ridesharing, ground transportation, and more)
- 2x points on dining and select streaming services
- Two free checked bags for you and a travel companion
- Priority boarding
- $100 credit for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck®
- 25% back on inflight purchases
- Earn 500 PQP for every $12,000 you spend on purchases (up to 6,000 PQP per year)
- Get 5,000 miles back when you book a flight with miles (up to 2x per year)
Regardless of which airline you prefer (I’m a Delta guy, myself), don’t leave free flights on the table. Pick up one of these cards and start collecting points and miles today so you can enjoy free flights, perks, and upgrades for your next trip!
For a full list of all my favorite points-earning credit cards, visit this page here.
Book Your Trip: Logistical Tips and Tricks
Book Your Flight
Find a cheap flight by using Skyscanner. It’s my favorite search engine because it searches websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is being left unturned.
Book Your Accommodation
You can book your hostel with Hostelworld. If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, use Booking.com as it consistently returns the cheapest rates for guesthouses and hotels.
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance
Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:
- SafetyWing (best for everyone)
- Insure My Trip (for those 70 and over)
- Medjet (for additional evacuation coverage)
Want to Travel for Free?
Travel credit cards allow you to earn points that can be redeemed for free flights and accommodation — all without any extra spending. Check out my guide to picking the right card and my current favorites to get started and see the latest best deals.
Ready to Book Your Trip?
Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel. I list all the ones I use when I travel. They are the best in class and you can’t go wrong using them on your trip.
Advertiser Disclosure: “Nomadic Matt has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. Some or all of the card offers on this page are from advertisers and compensation may impact how and where card products appear on the site. Nomadic Matt and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers.”
Editorial Disclosure: “Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed, or approved by any of these entities. This page does not include all card companies or all available card offers.”
