Smart Points' Best Airline Cards

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Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card

Our rating:4.1

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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

5X miles: Earn 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
1.25X miles: Earn unlimited 1.25X miles on every purchase, every day

Intro offer: Earn a bonus of 20,000 miles Earn a bonus of 20,000 miles once you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $200 in travel

Annual fee: $0

Regular APR: 18.49% - 28.49% 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.

Highlights

Earn a bonus of 20,000 miles once you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $200 in travel
$0 annual fee and no foreign transaction fees
Earn unlimited 1.25X miles on every purchase, every day
Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
Earn 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
Enjoy 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months; 18.49% - 28.49% variable APR after that; balance transfer fee applies
Top rated mobile app

Rates & Fees

Annual Fee: $0
Intro Purchase APR: 0% intro on purchases for 15 months
Regular APR: 18.49% - 28.49% (Variable)
Intro Balance Transfers APR: 0% intro on balance transfers for 15 months

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: Earn 100,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles For a limited time, earn 100,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after spending $10,000 within the first 3 months of account opening.

Annual fee: $595

Regular APR: 19.49% - 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.

Highlights

For a limited time, earn 100,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after spending $10,000 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: 19.49% - 29.49% (Variable)
Intro Balance Transfers APR: N/A

Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card

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Recommended credit

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

3X: Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels.
2X: Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets.
1X: Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.

Intro offer: Earn up to 100,000 Bonus Miles Earn 80,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $4,000 in purchases with your new Card, and an additional 20,000 bonus miles after you make an additional $2,000 in purchases on the Card, both within your first 6 months. Ends 04/01/2026.

Annual fee: $350

Regular APR: 19.49%-28.49% Variable

Recommended credit: 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 80,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $4,000 or more in purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership and an additional 20,000 bonus miles after you make an additional $2,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months, starting from the date that your account is opened. Offer Ends 04/01/2026.
Receive a Companion Certificate on a Delta Main round-trip flight to select destinations each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Certificate requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. Delta Basic experiences are not eligible for this benefit.
Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars with MQD Headstart each Medallion Qualification Year and earn $1 MQD for each $20 in purchases on your Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card with MQD Boost to get closer to Status next Medallion Year.
Delta SkyMiles® Platinum 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.
Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels.
Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets.
Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
$120 Resy Credit: Get up to $10 in statement credits each month after you pay with your enrolled Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases.
$120 Rideshare Credit: earn up to $10 in statement credits each month after using your Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card on U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enrollment required.
Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights and save up to $70 per person on a round-trip Delta flight.
Receive either a $120 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck® (through a TSA official enrollment provider) application fee, when charged to your Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card Members with an eligible ticket will be added to the Complimentary Upgrade list, after Delta SkyMiles Medallion Members and Reserve Card Members.
No Foreign Transaction Fees.
$350 Annual Fee.
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: $350
Intro Purchase APR: N/A
Regular APR: 19.49%-28.49% Variable
Intro Balance Transfers APR: N/A

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card

Our rating:4.3

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Rewards rate

2X: Earn 2X points on Southwest Airlines® purchases.
2X: Earn 2X points at Gas stations and Grocery stores on first $5,000 in combined purchases per year.
1X: Earn 1X points on all other purchases.

Intro offer: Earn 50,000 points. Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

Annual fee: $99

Regular APR: 19.24% - 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.

Highlights

Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
3,000 anniversary points each year.
Earn 2 points per $1 spent on Southwest Airlines® purchases
Earn 2 points for every $1 you spend at gas stations and grocery stores on the first $5,000 in combined purchases per anniversary year
Cardmembers and up to 8 additional passengers in the same reservation can check their first bag at no additional cost.
Select a Standard seat within 48 hours prior to departure, when available.
Earn 1 point for every $1 spent on all other purchases.
No foreign transaction fees.
Member FDIC

Rates & Fees

Annual Fee: $99
Intro Purchase APR: N/A
Regular APR: 19.24% - 27.74% Variable
Intro Balance Transfers APR: N/A

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

Our rating:4.8

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Rewards rate

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

Intro offer: 75,000 bonus points Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

Annual fee: $95

Regular APR: 19.24% - 27.49% 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.

Highlights

Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 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
Earn up to $50 in statement credits each account anniversary year for hotel stays through Chase Travel℠
10% anniversary points boost - each account anniversary you'll earn bonus points equal to 10% of your total purchases made the previous year.
Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
Complimentary DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees & lower service fees for a min. of one year when you activate by 12/31/27. Plus, a $10 promo each month on non-restaurant orders.
Member FDIC

Rates & Fees

Annual Fee: $95
Intro Purchase APR: N/A
Regular APR: 19.24% - 27.49% Variable
Intro Balance Transfers APR: N/A

Smart Points' Recommended Airline Cards

Why Trust CreditCards.com

Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card

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Highlights

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Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®

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Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card

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Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card

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Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

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Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card

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Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®

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Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card

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Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card

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Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

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At A Glance