Best card for flights
The cards we track, ranked by what they earn on flights, with the credits and perks that sweeten the category.
Which card is best for flights? The ranking below scores each card's flights rate in cents per dollar at published point valuations; the calculator does the same across your whole monthly spend.
Cards with this credit
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Capital One Venture X Card $300/yrReceive a $300 annual credit for hotels, flights, vacation rentals and more through Capital One Travel.$300 calendar year
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The Ritz Carlton Card $300/yrUp to $300 in statement credits per calendar year for qualifying airline purchases such as baggage fees, seat upgrades, in-flight purchases, and lounge memberships or passes.$300 calendar year
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American Express Platinum Card $200/yrEarn up to $200 per calendar year in statement credits after incidental fees, such as checked bags and in-flight refreshments, are charged by your one selected qualifying airline to your Card.$200 calendar year
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Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card $200/yrUp to $50 in statement credits each quarter, for a total of up to $200 back each year, on flight purchases made directly with an airline, through AmexTravel.com, or through the Amex Travel App.$50 quarterly
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United Club Business Card $200/yrGet up to $200 back as a statement credit each anniversary year when booking flights directly with JSX using your card.$200 one-time/annual
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United Club Infinite Card $200/yrGet up to $200 back as a statement credit each anniversary year when booking flights directly with JSX.$200 one-time/annual
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United Quest Card $200/yrAutomatically receive $200 in United TravelBank cash after account opening and annually on your account anniversary, for a future United- or United Express-operated flight.$200 calendar year
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United Business Card $125/yrReceive $125 in United TravelBank cash after making 5 United flight purchases of $100 or more each calendar year.$125 calendar year
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AAdvantage Globe Mastercard $100/yrEvery calendar year, earn up to $100 in statement credits on inflight purchases when you use your card on American Airlines flights.$100 one-time/annual
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Bank of America Premium Rewards Card $100/yrUp to $100 in Airline Incidental Statement Credits annually for qualifying purchases such as seat upgrades, baggage fees, in-flight services, and airline lounge fees, automatically applied to your card statement$100 calendar year
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United Explorer Card $100/yrUp to $100 back as a statement credit each anniversary year when booking flights directly with JSX using the card.$100 one-time/annual
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American Airlines AAdvantage MileUp Card $25/yr25% savings on inflight food and beverage purchases when you use your card on American Airlines flights.$25 one-time/annual
Which card
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Chase Sapphire Reserve$3,000 credit (one-time/annual)Reimbursement up to $3,000 per covered traveler for lost, damaged, or stolen checked or carry-on bag
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Chase Sapphire Preferred$3,000 credit (one-time/annual)Provides reimbursement up to $3,000 per covered traveler for lost, damaged, or stolen checked or car
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Chase Freedom Unlimited$6,000 credit (one-time/annual)Reimbursement up to $1,500 per covered traveler and $6,000 per trip for pre-paid, non-refundable pas
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Wells Fargo Autograph Journey Card$15,000 credit (one-time/annual)Use an eligible card to pay for your trip and get reimbursed up to $15,000 for lodging, flights, and
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Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business Card$10,000 credit (one-time/annual)Reimburses non-refundable travel expenses up to $10,000 per trip and $20,000 per 12-month period whe
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Chase Ink Business Preferred Card$10,000 credit (one-time/annual)Reimbursement up to $5,000 per covered traveler and $10,000 per trip for pre-paid, non-refundable tr
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Chase Sapphire Reserve Business Card$20,000 credit (one-time/annual)Reimbursed up to $10,000 per covered traveler and $20,000 per trip for pre-paid non-refundable trave
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Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business Credit Card$3,000 credit (one-time/annual)Provides reimbursement up to $3,000 per covered traveler for the cost to repair or replace checked o
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IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card$6,000 credit (one-time/annual)Reimbursement up to $1,500 per person and $6,000 per trip for pre-paid, non-refundable travel expens
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Amazon Prime Card$3,000 credit (one-time/annual)Provides reimbursement up to $3,000 per covered traveler for the cost to repair or replace checked o
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World of Hyatt Credit Card$10,000 credit (one-time/annual)Reimburses up to $5,000 per covered traveler and $10,000 per trip for pre-paid, non-refundable trave
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United Explorer Card$6,000 credit (one-time/annual)Reimbursement up to $1,500 per covered traveler and $6,000 per trip for pre-paid, non-refundable pas
Cards with this benefit
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Delta SkyMiles Platinum Card Loyalty boostersTake 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.And 5 more matching benefits on this card
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United Explorer Card More perksMileagePlus members can use miles to book any United-operated flight, any time, with no restrictions or blackout dates.And 5 more matching benefits on this card
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United Quest Card Elite statusPrimary Cardmembers with MileagePlus Premier status traveling on an award ticket, plus one companion, are eligible for Complimentary Premier Upgrades on select United- and United Express-operated flights, subject to availability.And 5 more matching benefits on this card
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United Club Infinite Card More perksMileagePlus members can use miles to book any United-operated flight, any time, with no restrictions or blackout dates.And 4 more matching benefits on this card
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American Express Business Platinum Card More perksGet 35% points back after using Pay with Points for flights booked through Amex Travel with your selected qualifying airline, up to 1,000,000 points back per calendar year.And 3 more matching benefits on this card
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Delta SkyMiles Gold Business Card Loyalty boostersTake 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.And 3 more matching benefits on this card
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Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business Card Loyalty boostersTake up to $50 off the cost of a flight for every 5,000 miles redeemed with Pay with Miles when booking on delta.com.And 3 more matching benefits on this card
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Delta SkyMiles Reserve Card Flight perksReceive Zone 5 Priority Boarding on Delta flights, boarding early to stow carry-on bags and settle in sooner.And 3 more matching benefits on this card
Learn
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Cash Back vs. Travel Points Lesson, phase 1: FoundationWhen they book a flight or a hotel room, they have four hundred dollars to spend.
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Currency 101 Lesson, phase 1: FoundationYou can only use Delta miles to book flights on Delta or its direct alliance partners.
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Understanding Cents-Per-Point Lesson, phase 1: FoundationThe highest cents-per-point values are unlocked on premium flights.
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The Power of Welcome Offers Lesson, phase 2: AccumulationSwipe the card at the grocery store, swipe it at the gas pump, swipe it at dinner, and watch the balance creep upward until one day there is enough for a flight.
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Travel Portals vs. Transfer Partners Lesson, phase 3: RedemptionYou enter your dates, search flights or hotels, and check out with points instead of a card.
Good to know
- Rates apply to the issuer's definition of the category, which can be narrower than the everyday word (a warehouse club is rarely "groceries").
- Enter your actual monthly flights spend in the best card finder to see the value in dollars, alongside every other category you spend in.
Related
Hold any of these cards? Ask your own wallet about Flights and Find answers from your cards, cycle state included.