Airline Credit Cards Every Frequent Flyer Needs

Not all airline rewards cards are created equal. While some programs give you generous rewards when you fly on the branded airline, others offer flexible benefits with the ability to transfer points to other airlines or hotel programs. If you fly frequently, you need at least one of these cards in your wallet to save money, make your travel experience a bit easier, and earn you free perks.

Chase Sapphire Preferred
The beauty of the Chase Sapphire Preferred card is it isn’t a branded airline card so you aren’t locked into flying with a specific carrier. The card earns you 2 points per $1 on all travel spending (which includes everything from flights, hotels, and car rentals to parking and taxis) as well as restaurant spending. You earn 1 point per $1 on everything else. Your points are worth 1.25 cents each when you redeem them with pay-with-points toward hotel stays, airfare, car rentals, and cruises. While the card has an annual fee of $95, it’s waived the first year. Right now, Chase offers 40,000 bonus points when you spend $3,000 during your first 3 months plus another 5,000 points if you add an authorized user. That signup bonus is worth at least $500 toward travel!

Chase has partnered with United, Southwest, British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, Korean Air, Marriott, Hyatt, Ritz-Carlton, Priority Club, and Amtrak. You can transfer your points to these partners for extra value. Points transfer at a 1:1 ratio. This means the 40,000 bonus points can be transferred and turned into a 2 night free stay at Hyatt Andaz Papagayo in Costa Rica, instantly turning that $500 signup bonus into a $1,200 value. This flexibility is hard to beat.

Chase United MileagePlus Explorer
The United MileagePlus program is one of the top-rated frequent flyer programs for domestic travelers because it offers more than 2,000 daily flights, has great network coverage, makes it fairly easy to earn and redeem free flights, and allows you to use your rewards for flights, hotels, and other travel expenses.

If you want a branded airline credit card, this is one of the best around. The card has a $95 annual fee (waived the first year) with no foreign transaction fees. You earn 2 MileagePlus miles for every $1 you spend on United and 1 mile per $1 on everything else. The current signup bonus is 30,000 bonus miles once you spend $1,000 during the first three months. While this is a fairly standard mileage rate with branded cards, you do get a free checked bag for you and your companion on United flights, two United Club passes, and priority boarding. You can use your miles at any time for any seat on a United flight.

Capital One Venture Rewards
The Capital One Venture Rewards card is a general travel rewards card that’s a good match for frequent flyers and anyone who travels often. Unlike branded cards, the Venture Rewards card allows you to fly on any airline or stay at any hotel whenever you want and earn a flat 2 miles per $1 on everything you buy. Your miles never expire and you can redeem them for any travel expenses like hotel stays, vacation packages, cruises, car rentals, and parking fees. Just add two zeros to the price to determine how many points you need: a $258 car rental will require 25,800 miles.

While the Venture Rewards card has a $59 annual fee (waived the first year), this is fairly low for most travel rewards cards and it offers a very versatile program that’s well suited to most travelers. You can also get a signup bonus of 40,000 bonus miles after spending $3,000 during the first 3 months. That’s equal to $400 in travel redemption!