Travelling is made easier with the Best Credit Cards for Flight Booking that offer valuable perks such as free miles, lounge access, and exclusive travel protections. Whether you’re booking flights for business or leisure, choosing the right credit card can enhance your travel experience.
The Best Credit Cards for Flight Booking provide a way to earn rewards, gain access to airport lounges, and enjoy premium travel benefits. In this article, we’ll explore the top 7 credit cards that offer these advantages and more, helping you maximize your miles and enjoy smooth, luxurious travel.
7 Best Credit Cards for Flight Booking
1. Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
- Key Fact: Earn 100,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 in the first 3 months.
- Rewards Breakdown:
- 5x points on travel booked through Chase Travel.
- 3x points on dining, select streaming services, and online groceries.
- 2x points on all other travel purchases.
- Best For: For beginners in the travel rewards world, looking to maximize their travel experience, choosing the right airline credit card is essential.
- Card Details:
- Annual Fee: $95
- Regular APR: 19.99% – 28.24% Variable
- Credit Score: Excellent, Good (700 – 749)
- Good to Know: No foreign transaction fees, plus access to Chase Ultimate Rewards® transfer partners.
- Overview: This card is perfect for those new to travel rewards. This credit card offers a sign-up bonus, cashback, points, and miles, along with low or no annual fees. It also provides solid earning potential across multiple categories.
- Bonuses: 100,000 bonus points after meeting the spending requirement.
- How to Get the Bonuses: Apply through Chase’s referral link and meet the spending requirement within 3 months.
- Pros:
- High bonus points.
- Flexible point transfers to multiple airlines.
- No foreign transaction fees.
- Cons:
- Limited airport lounge access.
- Annual fee applies.
2. Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
- Key Fact: Earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months.
- Rewards Breakdown:
- 10x miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.
- 5x miles on flights.
- 2x miles on all other purchases.
- Best For: Frequent travelers seeking a premium travel rewards credit card with high earning potential will benefit from top-tier perks and exclusive benefits.
- Card Details:
- Annual Fee: $395
- Regular APR: 19.99% – 29.24% Variable
- Credit Score: Excellent (750 – 850)
- Good to Know: With Capital One promotions, enjoy complimentary lounge access and two free visits to Plaza Premium Lounges.
- Overview: A premium card offering extensive travel perks and excellent rewards earning rates on travel-related purchases.
- Bonuses: 75,000 bonus miles after meeting the spending requirement.
- How to Get the Bonuses: Apply via Capital One’s official link and meet the spending requirement within 3 months.
- Pros:
- High earning rates on travel.
- Airport lounge access.
- Comprehensive travel insurance benefits.
- Cons:
- High annual fee.
- Limited lounge access starting in 2025.
3. The Platinum Card® from American Express
- Key Fact: Access over 1,400 airport lounges worldwide.
- Rewards Breakdown:
- 5x points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com.
- 5x points on prepaid hotels booked on amextravel.com.
- 1x point cash back on other purchases.
- Best For: Luxury travelers seeking elite perks and premium travel experiences.
- Card Details:
- Annual Fee: $695
- Regular APR: See Pay Over Time APR
- Credit Score: Excellent (700 – 749)
- Good to Know: Enrollment required for lounge access, which includes luxurious lounges worldwide.
- Overview: The Platinum Card® offers comprehensive benefits for those who seek premium experiences and high rewards rates for frequent travel.
- Bonuses: 80,000 Membership Rewards® points after meeting the spending requirement.
- How to Get the Bonuses: Apply via American Express’s referral link and meet the spending threshold in the first 3 months.
- Pros:
- Extensive lounge access worldwide.
- Elite status benefits.
- Comprehensive travel insurance.
- Cons:
- High annual fee.
- Enrollment required for lounge access.
4. Citi Premier® Card
- Key Fact: Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months.
- Rewards Breakdown:
- 3x points on air travel, hotels, and restaurants.
- 1x point on other purchases.
- Best For: Those who want a low-cost card with a robust rewards structure across multiple categories.
- Card Details:
- Annual Fee: $95
- Regular APR: 20.24% – 28.24% (Variable)
- Credit Score: Excellent, Good (700 – 749)
- Good to Know: Points can be transferred to over 15 airline partners for flight redemptions.
- Overview: The Citi Premier® card offers great value for travelers who want to earn solid rewards and enjoy flexible redemption options for flights.
- Bonuses: 60,000 bonus points after meeting the spending requirement.
- How to Get the Bonuses: Apply through Citi’s website and meet the spending threshold within the first 3 months.
- Pros:
- Flexible rewards transfer to airlines.
- Low annual fee.
- Great for dining and travel purchases.
- Cons:
- Despite limited bonus categories beyond dining and travel, this card remains one of the best credit cards for flight bookings.
- Points redemption process may be more complex than some cards.
5. Chase Sapphire Reserve®
- Key Fact: Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months.
- Rewards Breakdown:
- 3x points on travel and dining.
- 1x point on all other purchases.
- Best For: Frequent travelers seeking premium benefits like travel insurance and lounge access.
- Card Details:
- Annual Fee: $550
- Regular APR: 20.24% – 28.74% Variable
- Credit Score: Excellent (750 – 850)
- Good to Know: Earn 10x points on hotel and car rental purchases through Chase Ultimate Rewards.
- Overview: This card offers a luxury experience, with high earning rates on travel and dining and exceptional travel protections.
- Bonuses: 60,000 bonus points after meeting the spending requirement.
- How to Get the Bonuses: Apply through Chase’s website and meet the spending requirement within 3 months.
- Pros:
- High earning rates on travel and dining.
- Travel insurance benefits.
- Lounge access included.
- Cons:
- High annual fee.
- Requires excellent credit for approval.
6. Discover it® Miles
- Key Fact: Under Discover Bank promotions, earn 1.5x miles on every purchase.
- Rewards Breakdown:
- 1.5x miles on all purchases.
- 1.5x miles on all purchases.
- Best For: Casual travelers who prefer a simple, straightforward card without worrying about rotating categories.
- Card Details:
- Annual Fee: $0
- Regular APR: 14.99% – 25.99% Variable
- Credit Score: Good, Excellent (700 – 749)
- Good to Know: Miles never expire, and there’s no limit to how many miles you can earn.
- Overview: These best credit cards for flight booking offers simple rewards with no complicated bonus categories, making it great for anyone who prefers easy earning and redemption.
- Bonuses: Discover matches all the miles you’ve earned at the end of your first year.
- How to Get the Bonuses: Apply through Discover’s link and earn miles on all purchases.
- Pros:
- No annual fee.
- Unlimited miles on all purchases.
- No rotating categories.
- Cons:
- 1.5x miles may not be as competitive as other cards with bonus categories.
- Fewer travel protections than premium cards.
7. Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card
- Key Fact: Earn 50,000 points after spending $2,000 in the first 3 months.
- Rewards Breakdown:
- 2x points on Southwest purchases and Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partners.
- 1x point on all other purchases.
- Best For: Southwest Airlines loyalists who want to earn more points quickly for travel.
- Card Details:
- Annual Fee: $99
- Regular APR: 20.24% – 27.24% Variable
- Credit Score: Good, Excellent (700 – 749)
- Good to Know: Points can be redeemed for flights, hotel stays, or rental cars with no blackout dates.
- Overview: Perfect for Southwest flyers, this card offers solid earning rates and great value for those who frequently travel with the airline.
- Bonuses: 50,000 bonus points after meeting the spending requirement.
- How to Get the Bonuses: Apply through Southwest’s website and meet the spending threshold within 3 months.
- Pros:
- No blackout dates for redeeming points.
- Great for frequent Southwest flyers.
- Lower annual fee compared to premium cards.
- Cons:
- Limited rewards outside of Southwest Airlines-related purchases.
- Travel rewards are not as high as other best credit cards for flight booking general purchases.
Conclusion
Finding the Best Credit Cards for Flight Booking will help you maximize your travel rewards and enjoy premium benefits like airport lounge access, free miles, and travel protections. Whether you’re seeking flexibility or elite perks, these Best Credit Cards for Flight Booking offer something for every type of traveler. Choose a card that aligns with your travel habits to unlock your next adventure with ease and rewards.