Dfinitiv - Best Cards for Airline Rewards Programs

United℠ Explorer Card

Our rating:3.9

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Recommended credit

670-850 (Good to Excellent) CreditCards.com credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.

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Rewards rate

2x: 2x miles on United® purchases, dining, and hotel stays.
1x: 1x mile on all other purchases.

Intro offer: Earn 60,000 bonus miles Limited-time Offer: Earn 60,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.

Annual fee: $95, waived first year

Regular APR: 21.24% - 28.24% variable

Recommended credit: 670-850 (Good to Excellent) CreditCards.com credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.

Overall rating

Our rating:3.9

Rating methodology

Rewards Value:: 3.2
Annual Percentage Rate:: 1.0
Rewards Flexibility:: 3.0
Features:: 3.5
Issuer Customer Experience: 4.0

Highlights

Limited-time Offer: Earn 60,000 bonus miles
$0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $95.
2x miles on United® purchases, dining, and hotel stays
Enjoy priority boarding privileges and visit the United Club℠ with 2 one-time passes each year for your anniversary
Free first checked bag - a savings of up to $160 per roundtrip. Terms Apply.
Up to $120 Global Entry, TSA PreCheck® or NEXUS fee credit
25% back as a statement credit on purchases of food, beverages and Wi-Fi on board United-operated flights and on Club premium drinks when you pay with your Explorer Card
Member FDIC

Rates & Fees

Annual Fee: $0 Intro for First Year, then $95.
Intro Purchase APR: N/A
Regular APR: 21.24% - 28.24% Variable
Intro Balance Transfers APR: N/A

Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card

See Rates & Fees, Terms Apply

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Recommended credit

670-850 (Good to Excellent) CreditCards.com credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.

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Rewards rate

2X: Earn 2X Miles on Delta purchases, at U.S. Supermarkets and at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the U.S.
1X: Earn 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases.

Intro offer: Earn 50,000 Bonus Miles Earn 50,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $2,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.

Annual fee: $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150.

Regular APR: 20.24% - 29.24% variable

Recommended credit: 670-850 (Good to Excellent) CreditCards.com credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.

Highlights

Earn 50,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $2,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
Enjoy a $0 introductory Annual Fee for the first year, then $150.
Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
$200 Delta Flight Credit: After you spend $10,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, you can receive a $200 Delta Flight Credit to use toward future travel.
Earn 2X Miles on Delta purchases, at U.S. Supermarkets and at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the U.S. Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
You can check your first bag free on Delta flights, saving up to $70 on a round-trip Delta flight per person. For a family of four that’s a potential savings of up to $280 per round-trip flight.
Receive Zone 5 Priority Boarding on Delta flights; board early, stow your carry-on bag and settle in sooner.
$100 Delta Stays Credit: Get up to $100 back per year as a statement credit after using your Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card to book prepaid hotels or vacation rentals through Delta Stays on delta.com.
Take 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.
Receive a 20% savings in the form of a statement credit on eligible Delta in-flight purchases after using your Card.
No Foreign Transaction Fees.
With Send & Split®, you can send money and split your Card purchases with any other Venmo or PayPal user, directly from the Amex App. Enroll today.
Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
Terms Apply.

Rates & Fees

Annual Fee: $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150.
Intro Purchase APR: N/A
Regular APR: 20.24%-29.24% Variable
Intro Balance Transfers APR: N/A

Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®

Our rating:4.5

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Recommended credit

670-850 (Good to Excellent) CreditCards.com credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.

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Rewards rate

4X: Earn 4x AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases.
1X: 1 AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent on other purchases

Intro offer: 70,000 miles Earn 70,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after spending $7,000 within the first 3 months of account opening.

Annual fee: $595

Regular APR: 20.49% - 29.49% variable

Recommended credit: 670-850 (Good to Excellent) CreditCards.com credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.

Overall rating

Our rating:4.5

Rating methodology

Rewards Value:: 5.0
Annual Percentage Rate:: 1.0
Rewards Flexibility:: 4.0
Features:: 5.0
Issuer Customer Experience: 3.0

Highlights

Earn 70,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after spending $7,000 within the first 3 months of account opening.
Admirals Club® membership for you and access for up to two guests or immediate family members traveling with you
No Foreign Transaction Fees on purchases
Earn 1 Loyalty Point for every 1 eligible AAdvantage® mile earned from purchases
First checked bag is free on domestic American Airlines itineraries for you and up to 8 companions traveling with you on the same reservation

Rates & Fees

Annual Fee: $595
Intro Purchase APR: N/A
Regular APR: 20.49% - 29.49% (Variable)
Intro Balance Transfers APR: N/A

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Our rating:4.9

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Rewards rate

5 Miles: 5 Miles per dollar on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
2 Miles: 2 Miles per dollar on every purchase, every day

Intro offer: 75,000 miles 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening

Annual fee: $95

Regular APR: 19.99% - 29.49% variable

Recommended credit: 670-850 (Good to Excellent) CreditCards.com credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.

Overall rating

Our rating:4.9

Rating methodology

Rewards Value:: 4.3
Annual Percentage Rate:: 4.0
Rewards Flexibility:: 5.0
Features:: 3.0
Issuer Customer Experience:: 4.0

Highlights

Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day
Earn 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
Enjoy a $50 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Lifestyle Collection
Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs

Rates & Fees

Annual Fee: $95
Intro Purchase APR: N/A
Regular APR: 19.99% - 29.49% (Variable)
Intro Balance Transfers APR: N/A

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

Our rating:4.8

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Rewards rate

5x: 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠.
3x: 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries.
2x: 2x on all other travel purchases.
1x: 1x on all other purchases.

Intro offer: 60,000 bonus points Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

Annual fee: $95

Regular APR: 20.74% - 27.74% variable

Recommended credit: 670-850 (Good to Excellent) CreditCards.com credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.

Overall rating

Our rating:4.8

Rating methodology

Rewards Value:: 4.8
Annual Percentage Rate:: 1.0
Rewards Flexibility:: 5.0
Features:: 3.0
Issuer Customer Experience:: 4.0

Highlights

Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Enjoy beneﬁts such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.
Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel.
Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2027.
Member FDIC

Rates & Fees

Annual Fee: $95
Intro Purchase APR: N/A
Regular APR: 20.74% - 27.74% Variable
Intro Balance Transfers APR: N/A

United℠ Explorer Card

Rewards rate

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Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card

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Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®

Rewards rate

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Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Rewards rate

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Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

Rewards rate

At A Glance