Dfinitiv - Best Cards for Airline Rewards Programs

United℠ Explorer Card

Our rating:3.9

Add to compare

Recommended credit

670-850 (Good to Excellent) CreditCards.com credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.

Apply now

Rewards rate

2X: Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on dining, hotel stays, and United® purchases
1X: 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases

Intro offer: Earn 50,000 bonus miles Earn 50,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.

Annual fee: $95, waived first year

Regular APR: 21.99% - 28.99% variable

Recommended credit: 670-850 (Good to Excellent) CreditCards.com credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.

Overall rating

Our rating:3.9

Rating methodology

Rewards Value:: 3.2
Annual Percentage Rate:: 1.0
Rewards Flexibility:: 3.0
Features:: 3.5
Issuer Customer Experience: 4.0

Highlights

Earn 50,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.
$0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $95.
Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on dining, hotel stays, and United® purchases
Up to $100 Global Entry, TSA PreCheck® or NEXUS fee credit
25% back as a statement credit on purchases of food, beverages and Wi-Fi on board United-operated flights and on Club premium drinks when you pay with your Explorer Card
Free first checked bag - a savings of up to $160 per roundtrip. Terms Apply.
Enjoy priority boarding privileges and visit the United Club℠ with 2 one-time passes each year for your anniversary
Member FDIC

Rates & Fees

Annual Fee: $0 Intro for First Year, then $95.
Intro Purchase APR: N/A
Regular APR: 21.99% - 28.99% Variable
Intro Balance Transfers APR: N/A

Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card

See Rates & Fees, Terms Apply

Add to compare

Recommended credit

670-850 (Good to Excellent) CreditCards.com credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.

Apply now

Rewards rate

2X: Earn 2X Miles on Delta purchases, at U.S. Supermarkets and at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the U.S.
1X: Earn 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases.

Intro offer: Earn 40,000 Miles Earn 40,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $2,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.

Annual fee: $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150.

Regular APR: 20.99% - 29.99% variable

Recommended credit: 670-850 (Good to Excellent) CreditCards.com credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.

Highlights

Earn 40,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $2,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
Enjoy a $0 introductory Annual Fee for the first year, then $150.
Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
$200 Delta Flight Credit: After you spend $10,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, you can receive a $200 Delta Flight Credit to use toward future travel.
Earn 2X Miles on Delta purchases, at U.S. Supermarkets and at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the U.S. Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
You can check your first bag free on Delta flights, saving up to $70 on a round-trip Delta flight per person. For a family of four that’s a potential savings of up to $280 per round-trip flight.
Receive Zone 5 Priority Boarding on Delta flights; board early, stow your carry-on bag and settle in sooner.
$100 Delta Stays Credit: Get up to $100 back per year as a statement credit after using your Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card to book prepaid hotels or vacation rentals through Delta Stays on delta.com.
Take 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.
Receive a 20% savings in the form of a statement credit on eligible Delta in-flight purchases after using your Card.
No Foreign Transaction Fees.
With Send & Split®, you can send money and split your Card purchases with any other Venmo or PayPal user, directly from the Amex App. Enroll today.
Terms Apply.

Rates & Fees

Annual Fee: $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150.
Intro Purchase APR: N/A
Regular APR: 20.99%-29.99% Variable
Intro Balance Transfers APR: N/A

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

Our rating:4.9

Add to compare

Recommended credit

670-850 (Good to Excellent) CreditCards.com credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.

Apply now

Rewards rate

5x: 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠.
3x: 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries.
2x: 2x on all other travel purchases.
1x: 1x on all other purchases.

Intro offer: 60,000 bonus points Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

Annual fee: $95

Regular APR: 21.49% - 28.49% variable

Recommended credit: 670-850 (Good to Excellent) CreditCards.com credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.

Overall rating

Our rating:4.9

Rating methodology

Rewards Value:: 4.8
Annual Percentage Rate:: 1.0
Rewards Flexibility:: 5.0
Features:: 3.0
Issuer Customer Experience:: 4.0

Highlights

Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.
Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel.
Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2027.
Member FDIC

Rates & Fees

Annual Fee: $95
Intro Purchase APR: N/A
Regular APR: 21.49% - 28.49% Variable
Intro Balance Transfers APR: N/A

United℠ Explorer Card

Rewards rate

At A Glance

Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card

Rewards rate

At A Glance

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

Rewards rate

At A Glance