Best Airline Credit Cards of 2026

Best airline cards by carrier

Delta: Gold for occasional flyers, Platinum for status chasers

The Delta SkyMiles Gold is the easy pick if you fly Delta a few times a year. It now covers a second checked bag on Delta domestic flights, plus Zone 5 boarding, up to $100 a year in Delta Stays credits and up to $120 a year in rideshare credits. Spend $10,000 in a calendar year and you get a $200 Delta flight credit.

The Delta SkyMiles Platinum ($350) adds a yearly Main Cabin companion certificate for domestic, Caribbean and Central American routes, up to $150 in Delta Stays credits and $120 each in Resy and rideshare credits. For status seekers, you get a $2,500 MQD Headstart every year and $1 MQD per $20 spent.

United Explorer: the most perks per dollar

The United Explorer's perks list is long: a free first checked bag for you and a companion, two United Club one-time passes a year, a Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit every four years, and 25% back on inflight purchases. It also has primary rental car coverage and trip cancellation/interruption coverage, which most airline cards lack. The regular APR is 19.74%–28.24% variable, as of October 2026.

Southwest: big changes, higher fees

Southwest started charging for checked bags on tickets bought on or after May 28, 2025, and moved to assigned seating. Cardholders now get one free checked bag, and boarding perks began Jan 27, 2026. Card fees went up: the Plus from $69 to $99, and the Priority from $149 to $229. Several bonus categories were removed at the end of 2025.

The mid-tier Premier ($149) earns 3x on Southwest and 2x on grocery and restaurants (first $8,000 a year combined), with 6,000 anniversary points and a 15% flight discount. The bag perk covers you plus up to eight people on the same reservation, which is where the value lies for families.

American Airlines: Citi is now the only issuer

Citi is now the sole AAdvantage card issuer. Barclays Aviator accounts began converting to Citi on April 24, 2026 — for example, the Aviator Red became the Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select, and the Aviator Silver became the Globe. The $0 AAdvantage MileUp is the only card in the lineup with a 3% foreign transaction fee. The $695 Executive card includes full Admirals Club membership; see our lounge access guide.

Alaska: now Atmos Rewards

Alaska Mileage Plan and HawaiianMiles merged into Atmos Rewards in August 2025. The old Alaska Airlines Visa is now the Atmos Rewards Ascent, issued by Bank of America. Its companion fare (from $122: $99 plus taxes and fees from $23) now requires $6,000 in annual spending. A higher-tier Atmos Rewards Summit card costs $395.

What to check before you choose

• Bag rules: how many people on your booking get a free bag, and whether it's domestic only.
• The fee after year one: Delta Gold and United Explorer go to $150; AAdvantage Platinum Select goes to $99.
• Companion perks and their conditions: Delta Platinum's certificate is Main Cabin on set routes; Atmos's companion fare needs $6,000 in spending.
• Status help: Delta Platinum's MQD Headstart and Southwest's tier-qualifying points matter only if you're close to status.
• Foreign transaction fee: avoid the MileUp abroad.

Airline card or flexible points?

Using The Points Guy's October 2026 estimates, Delta and United miles are worth about 1.2 cents each, while Chase Ultimate Rewards points are worth about 2.05 cents. Because Chase points transfer 1:1 to United and Southwest, a card like the Sapphire Preferred often earns more usable value. Airline cards win on bag fees, boarding and companion fares. Many travelers hold one of each. Read points vs. miles for the math, or compare all options in best travel cards. Card terms change often, so check the issuer's site before you apply.

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