With some travel credit cards, you may accrue miles, a sort of rewards currency. You receive miles as compensation for using a miles credit card when you make purchases. You can get credit card miles even if you don’t travel by using your card for regular purchases.
Via their individual websites, all airlines provide customers the opportunity to buy miles for their loyalty programs. Although purchasing a large number of miles may seem strange at first, there are situations when it makes financial sense and can result in airfare savings of hundreds or even thousands of dollars. Here are some of the best airline credit cards for miles for you to make maximum savings on every purchase.
Top 10 Airline Credit Cards For MilesÂ
Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card
With the Delta SkyMiles Gold, you can earn 2X points for spending on Delta products and partner airline tickets, 2X miles for dining out (including delivery and takeout within the US) and at US supermarkets, and 1X miles for all other transactions. In addition to your regular spending, the SkyMiles reward program offers two other options to accrue bonus miles.
Other Card Perks:
- Get 15% off when booking Award Travel with miles.
- Get a head-start on your next adventure, compliments of your Card. After you spend $10,000 in purchases in a calendar year, you will receive a $100 Delta
- Receive a 20% savings in the form of a statement credit on eligible Delta in-flight purchases after using your Card.
- Make up to $50 off the cost of your flight for every 5,000 miles you redeem with Pay with Miles when you book on delta.com.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
The Sapphire Preferred earns 5 points for every $1 spent on travel booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3 points for dining, some streaming services, and online grocery purchases; 2 points are awarded for all other travel-related purchases, and 1 point is awarded for every other purchase.
Other Card Perks:
- 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- Earn up to $50 in statement credits each account anniversary year for hotel stays purchased through Ultimate Rewards.
The Platinum Card® from American Express
A premium credit card with luxury benefits, value-added services, and a welcome bonus is the Amex Platinum®. Uber credits, airline savings, bonus points, cashback, and many other benefits are available to cardholders. With this card, you can carry a debt for some charges but not for all of them, unlike with regular credit cards.
Other Card Perks:
- Earn 100,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $8,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
- You can unlock over $1,500 per year in statement credits earned on select purchases made with the Platinum Card® from American Express. Enrollment required.
- $200 Uber Cash, $240 Digital Entertainment Credit, $200 Hotel Credit, and $200 Airline Fee Credit
Aeroplan® Credit Card
The Aeroplan® Credit Card is a great choice for frequent travelers and Air Canada passengers who also frequently spend money on dining and travel because of its strong reward-earning potential.
Other Card Perks:
- Earn Aeroplan points on every dollar you spend and discover exciting travel benefits when you use your card.
- Travel benefits including perks for Air Canada flyers
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card
For those who travel with Delta frequently, the Delta Reserve SkyMiles card might offer exceptional value. Things get even better if you fly with friends and take advantage of extras like priority boarding and lounge access.
Other Card Perks:
- Earn 60,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $5,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.
- Higher reward rate as compared to many other cards
Alaska Airlines Visa® credit card
Your Alaska Airlines Visa Signature®card entitles you to a host of special advantages. When you make purchases in-flight or at your preferred retail locations, use your Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® card to book flights and get a variety of travel benefits.
Other Card Perks:
- 2 miles for every $1 spent on eligible gas, EV charging station, local transit, rideshare, cable, and select streaming services purchases.
- A 10% reward bonus on all miles earned from card purchases if you have an eligible Bank of America®
- Get 20% back on Alaska Airlines inflight purchases—just use your card to pay!
Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®ConclusionÂ
This card offers a robust welcome bonus along with a solid collection of benefits for frequent flyers on American Airlines. As long as you don’t have a balance on this high APR card, the miles you may accrue from American Airlines, gas, and dining out easily outweigh the annual charge.
Other Card Perks:
- Earn 50,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after spending $2,500 within the first 3 months of account opening.
- $125 American Airlines flight discount
- after you spend $20,000 or more in purchases during your card year and renew your card.
- No foreign transaction fees on purchases so you can shop like a local wherever your travels take you.
British Airways Visa Signature® Card
British Airways regular flyers will value the substantial welcome bonus and opportunity to earn a companion ticket with this card. An affordable annual fee is charged.
Other Card Perks:
- Save 10% on your purchase price when you book a British Airways flight from the US to London
- No foreign transaction fee
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card
The Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Card offers great value if you travel with Southwest more than twice a year. With an anniversary bonus of 7,500 points and up to 3 points per dollar on Southwest purchases, this card is the most premium option offered by Southwest.
Other Card Perks:
- 25% in-flight savings and a $75 yearly Southwest travel credit
- opportunity to accrue Tier Qualifying Points through spending
- Earn 3X points on Southwest® purchases.
- Ability to earn A-List status faster by spending on this card
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
When it comes to travel expenses, such vacation rentals, train tickets, or rental vehicles, you want to utilize your Venture® miles to pay for them instead than using your other travel rewards. You like the ease of fixed-rate redemptions where your miles have a predetermined value.
Other Card Perks:
- 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months – equal to $750 in travel.
- Earn 10,000 bonus miles every account anniversary.
Conclusion
For those who travel frequently, locating the finest airline credit card for miles is a worthwhile endeavor. It’s evident that the best selection will rely on your own travel interests and habits after examining a variety of options and learning about the distinctive benefits and features they offer.
Frequently Asked QuestionsÂ
Is using a credit card for travel preferable?
When paying for plane tickets using a credit card, airlines do not impose additional costs. It may be charged a few days following the reservation, but not before you check in and especially not after that. Just as with any other debit or credit card purchase, the charge is processed right away.
Should I get an airline credit card for travel points?
Depending on a number of factors, including how often you travel, whether you can afford to charge the minimum amount to be eligible for rewards, whether the value of your rewards outweighs the annual fees, and whether you can pay off the credit card balance each month, it may be worthwhile to have a travel rewards credit card.
