Updated in May 2026.
The best airline rewards credit card in 2026 depends on one thing above all else: which airline you actually fly. For frequent flyers with no strong loyalty, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card remains the top overall pick, flexible, affordable, and transferable to over a dozen airline partners. If you're locked into one carrier, a co-branded card will almost always outperform a general travel card for the flights you're actually taking.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is the best airline rewards credit card for most US frequent flyers in 2026, thanks to its $95 annual fee, broad transfer partner network, and a current welcome bonus of 75,000 points after spending $5,000 in the first three months. Loyal flyers for Delta, United, American, Alaska/Hawaiian, or Southwest will find better value in a dedicated co-branded card from their preferred airline.
What Makes a Great Airline Rewards Credit Card in 2026?
Three factors separate a great airline rewards card from an average one: earning power, travel perks, and fee value. Earning power covers how many miles or points you accumulate per dollar, and how those rates apply across everyday spending categories beyond just airfare. Travel perks such as free checked bags, priority boarding, lounge access, and companion fares are where the real day-to-day value lives for frequent flyers. Fee value is simply the question of whether the card's annual benefits are worth more than what you pay to hold it.
In 2026, annual fees have moved meaningfully across several major cards. The Amex Platinum rose to $895. The United Explorer Card's fees updated for existing cardholders in January 2026. Southwest's Priority card now carries a $229 annual fee. Understanding those changes is essential before committing to any card in this lineup.
One other factor matters for frequent flyer members specifically: the difference between co-branded and transferable rewards. Co-branded cards lock you into one airline's program, which means faster earning on that carrier's flights but zero flexibility if your travel patterns shift. Transferable currencies like Chase Ultimate Rewards or Amex Membership Rewards give you the ability to move points across multiple programs and unlock better redemption values, particularly on international business and first class.
Best Airline Rewards Credit Cards for 2026: Our Top Picks
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card — Best for Flexibility
For frequent flyers who aren't tied to a single airline, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is the strongest option available at its price point. The $95 annual fee is easy to justify: the card earns 5x points on travel booked through Chase, 3x on dining, 2x on all other travel, and 1x everywhere else. Points transfer at a 1:1 ratio to over ten airline and hotel partners, including United MileagePlus, Southwest Rapid Rewards, and Air Canada Aeroplan. A 10% anniversary points boost and a $50 annual hotel credit through Chase add consistent ongoing value beyond the welcome offer. The current welcome bonus of 75,000 points after spending $5,000 in the first three months is worth at least $750 in Chase Travel redemptions, and substantially more when transferred to premium airline partners.
The Platinum Card® from American Express — Best for Premium Travelers
The Amex Platinum Card is the right call if you fly frequently, book premium cabin tickets, and can absorb an $895 annual fee in exchange for a large package of travel benefits. The card earns 5x Membership Rewards points on flights booked directly with airlines or through Amex Travel (up to $500,000 per calendar year) and 5x on prepaid hotels booked through Amex Travel. The headline perk is the Global Lounge Collection, which covers over 1,550 airport lounges worldwide including Amex Centurion Lounges and Priority Pass Select membership, valued at over $850 per year. New cardholders may be eligible for a welcome offer of up to 175,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $12,000 in the first six months, though personalized offers vary. Amex estimates total annual card value at over $3,500 when credits including a $600 hotel credit and $300 in digital entertainment are fully used. This is not a card for casual travelers. It rewards those who fly enough to extract value from its premium perks and can commit to using its credits strategically.
Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card — Best for Delta Loyalists
Delta's mid-tier co-branded card hits a strong balance of benefits and cost for flyers who take at least a few Delta flights per year. The card carries a $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150. It earns 2x miles on Delta purchases, 2x at restaurants and US supermarkets, and 1x on everything else. Cardholders get a first checked bag free on Delta flights, a saving of up to $70 per person per round trip, along with Zone 5 priority boarding and a 15% discount when using miles to book award travel. After spending $10,000 on the card in a calendar year, you receive a $200 Delta Flight Credit for future travel. The card also includes a Main Cabin companion certificate each year after renewal, valid for domestic flights, the Caribbean, and Central America. It is not the card to choose if your priority is lounge access or fast-tracking to Medallion status. For those goals, the Platinum or Reserve tiers of the Delta Amex lineup are more appropriate.
United℠ Explorer Card — Best for United Loyalists
Named NerdWallet's Best Credit Card for Airline Benefits in 2026, the United Explorer Card delivers practical, easy-to-use perks for regular United flyers. The card earns 9x total miles on eligible United flights, 3x on all other United purchases, 2x on hotel stays and dining, and 1x on everything else. The annual fee is $95. Standout benefits include a free first checked bag for you and one companion, worth up to $160 per round trip, two one-time United Club passes each anniversary year, priority boarding, and a statement credit of up to $120 every four years for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS. The card also includes 25% back as a statement credit on eligible in-flight purchases. The current welcome offer is up to 80,000 bonus miles after meeting the spending requirements, a value that industry estimates place at over $1,000 in travel.
Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® — Best for American Airlines Flyers
For American Airlines loyalists who want a mid-range co-branded card, the Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select remains a reliable choice. The card earns 2x AAdvantage miles on eligible American Airlines purchases, at restaurants, and at gas stations, with 1x on all other purchases. The annual fee is $0 for the first year, then $99. Perks include a first checked bag free on domestic American itineraries for the cardholder and up to four travel companions, preferred boarding, and a 25% statement credit on eligible in-flight food and beverage purchases. Spend $20,000 in a cardmembership year and renew, and you earn a $125 American Airlines flight discount. The current welcome bonus is 50,000 AAdvantage miles after meeting the spending threshold, with the first-year fee waiver making the entry cost especially low. It is worth noting that this card does not include lounge access. For Admirals Club access, the Citi AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard at $595 per year is the next step up.
Atmos™ Rewards Ascent Visa Signature® Card — Best for Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines Flyers
The Atmos Rewards Ascent Visa Signature card is the rebrand of the former Alaska Airlines Visa Signature card and now covers both Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines under the unified Atmos Rewards loyalty program. The $95 annual fee is modest for what it delivers. The card earns 3x points on eligible Alaska and Hawaiian purchases, 2x on gas, EV charging, local transit, cable, and select streaming services, and 1x on all other purchases. The headline perk is the annual Companion Fare: after spending $6,000 on the card in an account anniversary year, you can bring a travel companion on a round-trip flight for just $99 plus taxes and fees from $23. A free first checked bag for the cardholder and up to six companions per reservation adds further trip savings. Cardholders also receive priority boarding on Alaska flights and 20% back on in-flight purchases on both Alaska and Hawaiian. The welcome offer currently includes 80,000 Atmos Rewards bonus points and a $99 Companion Fare after spending $4,000 in the first 120 days, a package that industry analysts value at over $1,100.
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card — Best for Southwest Flyers
For flyers who travel primarily on Southwest, the Priority card is the premium option in the Southwest co-branded lineup. The $229 annual fee is the highest of the Southwest cards, but it comes with an annual 7,500 Rapid Rewards anniversary points bonus, 4x points on Southwest purchases, 2x at gas stations and restaurants, and a 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points boost each year. Cardholders also receive their first checked bag free for themselves and up to eight companions on the same reservation, along with 25% back on in-flight purchases and up to four upgraded boardings per year. The current welcome bonus of 60,000 points after spending $2,000 in the first three months can go a significant way toward qualifying for the Southwest Companion Pass, which requires 135,000 qualifying points annually and allows a designated companion to fly with you on every trip at no additional airline charge.
Which Airline Credit Card Is Right for You?
If You're Loyal to One Airline
Co-branded cards consistently outperform general travel cards for loyal flyers because the airline-specific perks are only available on co-branded products. Free bags, priority boarding, companion fares, and lounge access cannot be replicated on a general travel card. If you fly Delta at least twice a year, the SkyMiles Gold will save you more in bag fees alone than it costs annually. The same logic applies for United and the Explorer Card, or American and the Citi Platinum Select. Choose the card for the airline you actually fly, not the one you aspire to fly.
If You Want Flexibility
If you split your flying across multiple carriers, or if your travel patterns shift based on routes and price, a transferable points card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred gives you far more strategic optionality. You are not locked into one airline's award inventory or pricing. When Southwest has a sale, you can transfer points to Rapid Rewards. When you want to fly business class to Europe, you can send points to Flying Blue or Iberia. That flexibility has genuine monetary value, especially for frequent flyers who regularly hunt for award availability across programs.
What to Do With Points You're Not Using
Frequent flyers accumulate points and miles faster than they can spend them. That is not a problem unique to any one program. It happens across all major airline co-branded cards. If you have credit card rewards sitting idle in your Chase, Amex, or Capital One account, those points have real value today, even if you have no upcoming travel planned. The Miles Market lets you sell your credit card points for cash, with dedicated options if you want to sell Amex Membership Rewards points or sell Chase Ultimate Rewards points. Rather than letting rewards expire or sitting on value you cannot use, converting them to cash is a straightforward alternative worth exploring.
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