One of the integral considerations for choosing the airline credit card is where you live. As per your location, if your local airport is dominated by a single airline like Delta, Go for the Delta-specific cards. The best airline credit cards to win awards are those that offer the greatest airline miles and have easy redemption options.
Some of the premium options among the best airline credit cards to win awards come with no foreign transaction fee, travel insurance, and various additional perks across the travel category. Moreover, the best airline credit card to win awards takes things up a notch by offering lounge access and free checked bags. Let ‘s dig deeper into the details of the best airline credit cards to win awards that are easy to redeem.
Table of Contents
Best Airline Credit Cards to Win Awards – Quick Summary
- American Express® Gold Card – Best overall card to win greater rewards on a high fee
- Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card – Best card for multiple travel benefits
- Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card – Best card that offers an excellent signup bonus
- United℠ Explorer Card- Great pick for all the frequent United Flyers
- SouthWest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card – Best for Southwest airline perks
Charting the Best Airline Credit Cards to Win Awards in 2024
| Credit Card | Intro Offer | Annual Fee | Reward Rate |
| American Express® Gold Card | 60,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $4,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership. | $250 | 4 points per $1 spent at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1 point per $1), on eligible flights booked directly with airlines or through amextravel.com, on prepaid hotels booked through amextravel.com, and on transit. 3 points per $1 spent on gas at U.S. gas stations. |
| Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card | Earn 75,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. | $395 | 2 miles per dollar on all purchases, every day. Get 5 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. |
| Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card | Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. | $95 | 2 points per dollar on travel and dining at worldwide restaurants, including eligible delivery services, takeout and dining in. 1 point per dollar on all other purchases. |
| United℠ Explorer Card | Earn 60,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 on eligible purchases within the first 3 months of account opening. | $95 | 2 miles per dollar on purchased United flights and at United-owned restaurants and bars. 1 mile per dollar on all other eligible purchases. |
| SouthWest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card | Earn 40,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, plus earn $75 Southwest Travel Credit when you activate your card. | $149 | 4 points per dollar on Southwest purchases, 2 points per dollar on local transit and commuting, mobile wallet purchases, internet, cable, phone services, select streaming services, and 1 point per dollar on all other purchases. |
1. American Express® Gold Card
| Introductory offer | Earn 60,000 bonus membership reward points |
| Annual Fee | $250 |
| Reward Rate | 1x – 4x |
The American Express® Gold Card tops up the list of the best airline credit cards to win awards for those who love to travel to their favorite destinations and dine out at places to earn generous rewards. The card comes with an annual fee of $250 but the premium benefits off set its cost . Although the card is not a great option for those who are looking for travel purchases like hotel and rental cards.
Stand-out benefits of #1 Best Airline Credit Cards to Win Awards
Frequent travelers will prefer the Amex Gold Card as it offers various statement credits. With this card, cardholders can get up to $120 as the annual dining credit. With $10 limit each month on The Cheese Factory, Goldbelly, Grubub, and multiple other participating restaurants. Moreover, card holders enjoy a cashback of $120 in Uber Cash f or Uber Eats and Rides.
| Pros | Cons |
| Generous Reward program with 4x points on restaurants and 3x points directly on the airlines or flights that are booked through Amex travel.com | High annual fee $250 |
| Baggage insurance plans cover a cost of $1,250 for carryon baggage and $500 for checked bags | No Introductory APR period |
| No fee is charged on purchases outside the region of U.S |
2. Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
| Introductory offer | Earn 75,000 bonus miles |
| Annual Fee | $ 395 |
| Reward Rate | 1% – 5% |
The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is a premium travel card that is jampacked with travel perks. The added benefits of the card compelled this among the best airline credit cards to win awards to upscale your travel benefits. The card offers an easy way to earn greater rewards without keeping a look at the bonus categories.
Stand-out benefits of #2 Best Airline Credit Cards to Win Awards
Frequent travelers can take advantage of the no-foreign transaction fee for all purchases and balance transfers. Through this card, the cardholders can get up to $100 as a cover for the Global Entry or TSA Precheck® membership along with complimentary visits each year to Capital One Lounges or 100+ Plaza Premium lounges through the Partner lounge network. Moreover, being in the list of best airline credit cards to win awards, you can earn 10,000 bonus miles every year starting on your first anniversary.
In brief, Venture X easily covers the overall travel expenses that include flights, hotels, and rental cars and gives you the option to transfer miles to 15+ travel loyalty program.
| Pros | Cons |
| Generous Reward program with 5 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars that are booked through Capital One Travel | Lack of domestic airline partners |
| Offers credit of $100 for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application every 4 years | Lack of hotel status benefits |
| Miles are comparatively easy to earn and redeem |
3. Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
| Introductory offer | Earn 60,000 bonus points |
| Annual Fee | $ 95 |
| Reward Rate | 1x – 5x |
This one is not a branded airline credit card but the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card offers a big sign-up bonus along with flexible redemption options. Through this card, you earn greater rewards across several spending categories include travel and dining majorly. Being of the viable options among the best airline credit cards to win awards, this card can be a dream for a frequent traveler as it comes with a moderate annual fee.
Stand-out benefits of #3 Best Airline Credit Cards to Win Awards
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card can get you a variety of travel perks that include 5x on travel purchased through the Chase Ultimate Rewards ®, 3x on dining and 2x on all the other travel purchases. Being a great option among the best airline credit cards to win awards, you get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, car rentals, cruises, and hotels booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
The benefits are not limited to travel perks but additionally, it also offers trip cancellation and interruption insurance. And the greatest of all the benefits is that it unlocks access to 14 airlines and transfer partners. The points are more valuable and flexible than any other card and can be transferred to United Airlines Mileage Plus, Marriott Bonvoy, and Southwest Airlines rapid Rewards among many others.
| Pros | Cons |
| Offers high rewards on travel purchased through the Chase Ultimate Program | Does not offer free checked bags and priority boarding for the flyers |
| Easily transfer the points to partners with a 1:1 ratio | No introductory APR offer |
| Offers multiple travel and shopping protections |
4. United℠ Explorer Card
| Introductory offer | Earn 50,000 bonus miles |
| Annual Fee | $0 for the first year and $ 95 for the next years |
| Reward Rate | 1x – 2x |
The United℠ Explorer Card comes with richer rewards and the perks you will actually use. Being in the list of best airline credit cards to win awards, it offers several perks in comparison to the airline credit card that falls in a similar price range. With the advantage of getting bags checked for free and two lounge passes per year, the card is a viable option for all those who fly United regularly.
Stand-out benefits of #4 Best Airline Credit Cards to Win Awards
With this card , you can earn 2 miles on each dollar you spent on dining and hotel stays and all other United purchases. Being in the line of the best airline credit cards to win awards, it gets you 25% as statement credit which can be utilized on food, beverages, and Wi-Fi onboard United-operated flights. However you get up to $100 Global entry, TSA PreCheck® or NEXUS free credit.
In brief, being the elite option, you can enjoy priority boarding privileges along with 2 one one-time passes on each anniversary to visit United Club℠.
| Pros | Cons |
| Offers moderate rewards with 2 points per dollar on all United purchases | No 0% introductory APR offer |
| Offers free checked bags for a single individual | Rewards have limited flexibility |
| Low annual fee |
5. SouthWest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card
| Introductory offer | Earn 50,000 points |
| Annual Fee | $149 |
| Reward Rate | 1x – 3x |
The SouthWest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card comes with a long list of perks as long as its name. The annual fee is $149 but it offers greater value than the other low-priced airline credit cards. Pay more and get more perks are the makeup for the difference in cost of the card. So if you are a hard-core Southwest flyer, you can make use of one of the best airline credit cards to win awards for travel.
Stand-out benefits of #5 Best Airline Credit Cards to Win Awards
This card offers greater points, 75,000 points on each anniversary for the frequent flyers to reap the benefits. You can earn 3x points on Southwest purchases,2x on local transit , 2x on cable and other streaming services. This card offers a mix and match of cashback and points for users to fully benefit from it. Additionally, it offers $75 Southwest credit each year.
Being one of the suitable options among the best airline credit cards to win awards, it charges no foreign transaction fee to the users. Moreover, unlike the top-of-line cards, you won’t get lounge access and priority boarding on flights.
| Pros | Cons |
| Charges no foreign transaction fee | High regular APR |
| Excellent signup bonus | Rewards have limited flexibility and are only available solely for Southwest |
| Unlimited reward seats |
Best Airline Credit cards with companion tickets
If you are not a solo travelers and want to travel with your friend and partner , you can check out the airline credit cards that offer companion benefits . The companion benefits are additional perks are either in the form of tickets or first checked luggage and priority boarding.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the best airline credit card to win awards?
The choice of the best airline credit cards to win awards depends upon your individual travel habits and spending preferences. However, one of the most popular and rewarding airline credit cards is the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card. This card offers a generous sign-up bonus and flexible rewards that can be redeemed for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, or transferred to a variety of airline partners.
What is the best airline credit card to book flights to Europe?
The two most favorable options for flights to Europe are the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card along with the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card. Both offer greater travel perks and rewards for international travel.
