The Best US Airline Credit Cards In 2024

Airline co-branded credit cards offer their holders numerous critical benefits that allow them to drastically elevate their travel experience, whether through inflight perks or accelerating status. Across the board, there are dozens of co-branded credit cards in the United States, and identifying which one is best for you can prove challenging.

Each carrier offers multiple different tiers of credit cards, some of which have higher annual fees in exchange for significantly higher benefits. A few cards, however, offer no annual fees in exchange for significantly weaker benefits, of which there are five in the United States.

Attempting to identify which co-branded cards provide the most favorable award terms given their annual fees can be difficult. As a result, it is tricky to indicate which cards are the best, as preferences vary heavily by the customer. In this article, we will take a look at Simple Flying’s five best US co-branded airline credit cards of 2024.

5 Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card

Offered through: Chase Bank

The Rapid Rewards Premier Card is the best in Southwest’s lineup and offers the most comprehensive package of benefits for a relatively low annual fee of $99. The card provides several key benefits alongside its generous accrual schedule, which is as follows:

• 3 points per $1 spent on Southwest Airlines purchases
• 2 points per $1 spent on hotel and car rental purchases
• 2 points per $1 spent on local transit and commuting purchases
• 2 points per $1 spent on internet, cable, and phone services
• 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases

With such extensive reward opportunities, it is unsurprising that the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Card made it so high up our list. Other noteworthy benefits include a 50,000-point welcome bonus (after qualifying purchases), 2 EarlyBird Check-in passes per year, a boost of 10,000 Companion Pass Points, and a reward of 1,500 tier qualifying points (TQPs) for every $5,000 spent in purchases.

4 Alaska Airlines Visa Signature Card

Offered through: Bank of America

Alaska Airlines loyal fliers will undoubtedly want to go for the carrier’s Visa Signature card, which offers extensive benefits that can drastically improve one’s travel experience for a fee of just $95. For starters, the generous accrual schedule is as follows:

• 3 miles for every $1 spent on eligible Alaska Airlines purchases
• 2 miles for every $1 spent on eligible gas, electric vehicle charging station, or local transit purchases
• 2 miles for every $1 spent on cable and streaming purchases
• 1 mile for every $1 spent on all other purchases

Photo: Alaska Airlines

The card’s bonus offer is impressive, providing 60,000 bonus miles alongside the airline’s well-known companion fare benefit. Furthermore, all Visa Signature Cardholders will have access to priority boarding and can also bring a free checked bag onboard.

3 AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard

Offered through: CitiBank

American’s loyal customers will be quick to want the carrier’s Platinum Select card. This card offers an impressively high value for the low annual fee of just $99, which is waived for the first 12 months. The card’s relatively extensive accrual schedule is as follows:

• 2 miles per $1 spent on American Airlines purchases
• 2 miles per $1 spent at restaurants
• 2 miles per $1 spent at gas stations
• 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases
• 1 loyalty point per each AAdvantage mile earned

Photo: Philip Pilosian | Shutterstock

While all of these rewards may seem pretty standard, the ability to earn loyalty points to help build up status is a unique benefit that pushes this card over the top. With just 15,000 points, AAdvantage members can begin to reap the benefits of their loyalty and, at 40,000, then achieve unlimited complimentary upgrades. Cardholders can also enjoy an annual $125 statement credit on American Airlines flights, a free checked bag, and no foreign transaction fees, which alone can justify the card’s annual fee.

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2 United MileagePlus Explorer Card

Offered through: Chase Bank

One of the most popular choices for a first airline credit card is the United MileagePlus Explorer card, which has a low annual fee of $99 that is waived for the first year. The card’s accrual schedule includes bonus miles across many categories:

• 2 miles per $1 spent on United Airlines purchases
• 2 miles per $1 spent on hotel bookings
• 2 miles per $1 spent on eligible delivery services
• 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases

Photo: United Airlines

The United MileagePlus Explorer card has an extensive list of other benefits, including no foreign transaction fees and free checked bags. Cardholders are also entitled to two one-time United Club passes per year, a combined $100 value that easily justifies the card’s annual fee.

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1 Delta SkyMiles Gold Card

Offered through: American Express

The Delta American Express SkyMiles Gold card is not only an excellent choice for any loyal Delta flier, but it also offers dozens of benefits that are conducive to first-time airline cardholders. The card provides the following generous accrual specifications:

• 2 miles per $1 spent on Delta Air Lines purchases
• 2 miles per $1 spent at restaurants
• 2 miles per $1 spent at US supermarkets
• 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases

In addition to a welcome bonus of 40,000 miles, the Delta Gold card offers dozens of benefits that can easily help justify its $150 annual fee, which is, like many others, waived during the first year. Another signature benefit offered by the card is TakeOff 15, which enables loyalty program members to redeem award miles for flights sooner.