Best airline credit cards of September 2025

Fans of Capital One who frequently book travel via the Capital One booking site and want a card the offers no foreign transaction fees.

In addition to a solid earning structure, the Venture X Business card provides you with a $300 annual credit for bookings made through Capital One's travel booking site in addition to 10,000 bonus miles every year on your account anniversary — starting with your first anniversary.

The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is a great option for those who want to take advantage of a solid earning structure that provides them with easy to redeem miles. The Venture Rewards card earns an unlimited 2 miles per dollar spent on every purchase plus an unlimited 5 miles per dollar on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. You get similar benefits that come with the more premium Capital One Venture cards with a smaller annual fee of $95 (see rates and fees).

It can add a lot of value to almost any traveler’s wallet — from points and miles beginners to casual travelers who only fly once or twice a year to frequent flyers who are in the air at least once a month.

“The Chase Sapphire Preferred has been in my wallet for over five years and is the go-to midlevel rewards credit card that I recommend to people. It usually has a pretty solid sign-up bonus, with points that can be transferred to some of my favorite loyalty programs, like British Airways Executive Club and World of Hyatt.” — Matt Moffitt, senior credit cards editor

If you’re looking for a card that earns bonus rewards on all purchases, the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card earns at least 2 miles per dollar on every purchase. The card has a low $95 annual fee (see rates and fees), valuable sign-up bonus and the ability to redeem miles for travel through Capital One Travel or by transferring to 15+ travel partners.

Frequent diners, Citi loyalists and travelers who want American Airlines access without a full lounge membership.

If you want to earn American Airlines miles without flying, enjoy airport lounge access without a full Admirals Club membership and easily offset a high annual fee with versatile statement credits, the Citi Strata Elite deserves a spot in your wallet.

The Platinum Card® from American Express offers more robust lounge access and flexible travel credits, while the Chase Sapphire Reserve® offers a more flexible annual travel credit and access to a broader range of travel partners.

Business owners who want to earn a transferable currency will love Capital One miles, which have grown in value and redemption options over the past few years. You’ll also enjoy a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit (up to $120) and the flexibility to use your miles to cover travel expenses at a fixed value of 1 cent apiece. If you’re looking for a card that earns valuable miles without needing to track bonus categories, this is it.

You’ll earn transferable points on every purchase without worrying about bonus categories, all for a low annual fee.

The Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card has the same $95 annual fee but earns Chase Ultimate Rewards points instead of Capital One miles. You’ll earn 3 points per dollar spent on travel, shipping, select advertising purchases and internet, cable and phone services (on up to $150,000 in annual combined purchases, then 1 point per dollar); you’ll earn 1 point per dollar on other purchases.

Travelers looking for a premium card with a lot of benefits who don’t want to pay an exorbitant annual fee.

“With an annual fee that is $300 less than the Amex Platinum (see Amex Platinum rates and fees), the Capital One Venture X card is my favorite travel credit card. The card comes with an annual $300 Capital One Travel portal credit, which I use to book flights. That effectively brings the $395 annual fee down to $95 per year. I use my Venture X card to earn 2 miles per dollar (a 3.7% return at TPG’s valuations) in spending categories where most cards would only accrue 1 mile (e.g., auto maintenance, pharmacies, medical bills).” — Kyle Olsen, former points and miles reporter

The Chase Sapphire Reserve® has a similar set of benefits, but its travel credit is less restrictive than the Venture X’s, and you’ll earn more on non-portal travel and dining spending. However, the Chase Sapphire Reserve does come with a higher annual fee ($795).

Small-business owners who want to earn valuable Chase Ultimate Rewards points across a number of business expenses without a high annual fee. Those with a company cellphone also could benefit from this card through its cellphone protection.

“I originally signed up for the Ink Business Preferred primarily for its sign-up bonus. But, over the last year, I’ve found myself making it my go-to card when booking travel. After all, the Ink Business Preferred earns 3 points per dollar spent on travel and provides excellent travel protections, including trip delay protection and rental car insurance.” — Katie Genter, senior points and miles writer

For small-business owners who are interested in maximizing their monthly expenses, the American Express® Business Gold Card offers a very strong rewards structure that adapts to your spending habits. Plus, TPG values Amex Membership Rewards points at 2 cents each (equal to our valuation of Chase Ultimate Rewards points).

Frequent travelers who know they can make the most of the many perks this card has to offer will benefit the most from adding it to their wallet.

“Whilst this card has a high annual fee, it more than justifies itself for frequent travelers like me. The lounge access options that come with the Platinum are unrivaled by competitors. I put all of my flights — whether bought with cash or points — on this card to earn 5 points per dollar spent (up to 500,000 points per year, then 1 point per dollar; must be purchased directly with the airline or with Amex Travel). I make sure to take full advantage of the Uber, Saks Fifth Avenue, Hulu/Disney+ and Clear Plus credits (enrollment is required). And, honestly, pulling a Platinum card out of your wallet to pay for something does feel pretty fancy.” — Matt Moffitt, senior credit cards editor

The Chase Sapphire Reserve® card offers top-tier lounge access. Though Chase Sapphire Lounges by the Club remain outnumbered by Centurion Lounges, if you have one at your home airport, the Sapphire Reserve card may be a good fit if you prefer Chase as an issuer over American Express. The Sapphire Reserve features a whopping $795 annual fee but does offer tons of credits that help offset this cost. If you're a frequent traveler, it could be the perfect addition to your wallet.

The VentureOne is a strong card to have in your arsenal and great if you are budgeting. After all, there aren’t many no-annual-fee cards with the ability to transfer points and miles directly to travel partners, so it’s a big bonus that this card offers that.

“I wanted a credit card that earns Capital One miles without an annual fee, and this is a winner. It doesn’t have the bells and whistles of some other cards, but I’m happy earning 1.25 miles per dollar on all purchases without paying a fee to keep this card year after year. I’ll never cancel this card.” — Ryan Smith, former credit cards writer

For a small annual fee, many travelers could benefit from the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card. You’ll earn at least 2 miles per dollar on all purchases and receive a statement credit for TSA PreCheck® or Global Entry membership.

Small-business owners who want some United perks without spending hundreds of dollars on an annual fee.

“As a frequent United traveler, I actually have a couple of United credit cards that unlock different perks and benefits. While I initially got the United Business Card for the bonus and to keep business expenses separate, I keep it for the discount on inflight purchases, the annual 5,000-mile bonus for having both a business and personal United card, and the $125 statement credit for charging $100 or more on United purchases at least five times to the card each calendar year.” — Summer Hull, director of content

Loyal United flyers who are interested in even more benefits (including lounge access and additional ways to fast-track elite status) should consider the United Club Business Card. While the annual fee is much higher, frequent United flyers who maximize the benefits can easily offset the additional cost.

The information for the United Club Business has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

The card is best suited to casual Delta flyers who may not fly often enough to earn elite status but would enjoy elitelike perks such as priority boarding and a free checked bag.

“As someone who likes flying Delta but doesn’t fly with them often enough to earn elite status, my Delta SkyMiles Gold Amex still gives me elitelike perks to help upgrade my travel experience.” — Madison Blancaflor, senior editor

If you are a regular Delta flyer interested in earning elite status, the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card is a strong alternative. You’ll get the same elitelike benefits as with the Gold, but you’ll also get the ability to fast-track your way to Medallion status.

This card is ideal for Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines flyers. However, even if you don’t fly with these airlines all the time, holding the Atmos Rewards Ascent card may still offer outsize value thanks to perks like a free checked bag on flights with these two airlines.

If you find yourself on international flights with Alaska and Hawaiian, you’ll enjoy elevated reward rates on every dollar you spend with these airlines, as well as no foreign transaction fees wherever your travels take you.

If you want a more general travel card with a similar annual fee that earns transferable points, consider the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card. This card also comes with a $95 annual fee, doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees and earns valuable Chase Ultimate Rewards points.

Loyal American Airlines flyers who are looking for ways to fast-track elite status and enjoy Admirals Club lounge access when flying with American.

“This card helps me earn Loyalty Points for my elite status with American. But the real reason I keep it year after year is because of the generous lounge access policy and the ability to add so many of my friends and family as authorized users.” — Scott Mayerowitz, former executive editor

American Airlines flyers who are looking to earn Loyalty Points but aren’t interested in lounge access could benefit from the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®. It comes with a much lower annual fee and lets you earn bonus AAdvantage miles on additional spending categories: restaurants and gas stations.

The information for the Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. 

Southwest loyalists who frequently fly and make purchases with the airline.

This card is ideal for frequent Southwest flyers who want premium travel benefits, like preferred seating (when available), free checked bags for their whole group and elite status boosts, without jumping to a business or ultra-premium product. It’s especially useful for Southwest loyalists who want a more comfortable flying experience.

Fans of Southwest can breathe a little easier knowing that they have options when it comes to choosing the best Southwest credit card for their specific needs. If you want a Southwest-branded credit card with a lower annual fee, you can choose between the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card or the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card, which have annual fees of $149 and $99, respectively. The Premier card is a great choice for the semi-frequent Southwest traveler, while the Plus card is a great entry-level choice for those who occasionally fly Southwest.

The information for the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

This card is an excellent choice for Citi ThankYou points enthusiasts who want to earn rewards across every purchase without incurring an annual fee.

If you frequently spend money at supermarkets, on transit, gas and EV charging stations and want to earn Citi ThankYou points without having to pay an annual fee, the Citi Strata should be in your wallet. It earns solid reward rates in popular bonus categories and a flat rate of 1 point per dollar spent in non-bonus categories, so you’re earning rewards every time you tap to pay.

If you don’t mind paying an annual fee and still want to stay in Citi’s ecosystem, consider the new Citi Strata Elite℠ Card. It features a hefty annual fee of $595 but offers decent value for travelers, like an up to $300 annual hotel benefit, Priority Pass Select membership and four Admirals Club lounge passes every calendar year. The Strata Elite also earns at least 1.5 points per dollar spent in nonbonus categories, making every purchase rewarding.

Frequent Delta flyers and/or those seeking to earn Delta Medallion status would benefit from the premium perks offered by the Delta SkyMiles Platinum Amex.

“I keep it in my wallet for the annual companion pass. My family and I do a lot of domestic flying and often plan our vacations far in advance. Having the companion ticket can save my family hundreds of dollars a year in airfare. Plus, the tickets even qualify for free elite upgrades.” — Scott Mayerowitz, former executive editor

If you are a Delta loyalist who wants more Delta perks, including 15 Delta Sky Club visits per year, the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card may be a better option for your wallet.

Earn unlimited access after spending $75,000 in purchases on the card during a calendar year. 

Small-business owners who fly regularly with Southwest will get the most out of this card’s earning categories and benefits.

"It made sense for me to get this as my first Southwest card, given that I live in Austin, where almost 40% of flights are operated by Southwest. I get the most value out of this card by taking advantage of the upgraded boardings, inflight Wi-Fi credits and 9,000 anniversary bonus points, which help offset the significant annual fee.” — Matt Moffitt, senior credit cards editor

The Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card earns Chase Ultimate Rewards points across a variety of business expenses and has a lower annual fee than the Southwest Performance Business card. While it doesn’t offer Southwest-specific perks or a fast-track to elite status, Southwest is a Chase transfer partner, so you can transfer your points to book Southwest flights.

Business owners who fly Delta regularly and would value Sky Club and Centurion lounge access. Also, those looking to reach elite Medallion status sooner with the help of a credit card that can provide perks like complimentary upgrades, priority airport services and additional baggage allowances. 

Reserve cardmembers will receive 15 visits per year to the Delta Sky Club; to earn an unlimited number of visits each year, the total eligible purchases on the card must equal $75,000 or more each calendar year.

“The Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business Amex helped me attain airline status without actually having status. As a newbie Delta flyer, I wanted to have a credit card that would make my overall travel experience better. Access to the Delta Sky Club and Centurion lounges when flying Delta are massive perks. The ability to earn triple miles when making Delta purchases, an annual companion pass and a 15% discount when using my SkyMiles to book award travel make the high annual fee on this card worth it.” — Hannah Streck, senior SEO manager

Reserve cardmembers will receive 15 visits per year to the Delta Sky Club; to earn an unlimited number of visits each year, the total eligible purchases on the card must equal $75,000 or more each calendar year.

If you want a Delta card with a lower annual fee (see rates and fees), the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card offers Delta perks like an annual companion certificate and a faster path to elite status that could be a better fit for regular Delta travelers.

Anyone with frequent restaurant and grocery purchases can get a ton of value from the Amex Gold, especially if you utilize the issuer’s array of lucrative transfer partners.

“There's no better card for groceries and dining than the Amex Gold. I earn 4 points per dollar in both of these categories, and with additional perks like monthly statement credits and the ability to transfer my Membership Rewards points to valuable airline partners, the card is a mainstay in my wallet.” — Nick Ewen, director of content

If you still want extra rewards at restaurants along with additional bonus categories and other valuable perks at a lower fee, consider the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card.

Small-business owners who travel frequently and regularly charge large purchases to their card each month. The card has a very high annual fee, so it’s best suited to those who know they can maximize its benefits and earning structure.

“I find that the annual perks and credits vastly outweigh the large annual fee. And that’s even without using some of them. By using the benefits with Priority Pass and Amex lounges, the airline incidental credits, plus the statement credits for Clear Plus, our cellphone plan and restocking my home printer with ink and paper from Dell (enrollment required), I get more value out of the card than it costs to keep it. Plus, it earns my favorite points — American Express Membership Rewards — earning 5 points per dollar on flights and hotels booked with Amex Travel.” — Ryan Smith, former credit cards writer

If you are looking for a card to maximize business expenses while enjoying the Amex Business Platinum’s redemption partners, the American Express® Business Gold Card is another option. For a much lower annual fee, you’ll earn more across your top spending categories while still having access to Amex transfer partners.