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If you’re considering a rewards credit card, the chances are that you’re looking at one that offers miles. If you’re not familiar with airline loyalty programs, you may wonder whether this is a good reward option for you.
So, here we’ll explore the topic of how credit card airline miles work.
What Are Credit Card Miles?
Credit card miles are a form of reward currency. While some cards offer a percentage of your purchases as cash back or points rewards, miles are a popular reward for travel credit cards. As with points, you can accumulate your miles and then redeem them.
This is where there tends to be a greater difference between point rewards and credit card miles. Miles are typically redeemed for flights or other travel purchases. If you have a card that earns airline miles, you’ll get the best redemption rates when you book flights with that airline or its partners.
However, if the miles are associated with the credit card company, your best redemption rate is likely to be any travel purchased via the card issuer’s travel portal.
How Much Are Credit Card Miles Worth?
There is no simple, straightforward answer to this question. Firstly, the miles for different programs can vary and additionally, you need to consider the redemption rate.
As we discussed earlier, miles redemption rates tend to favor flights, particularly when you’re booking with the associated airline. So, you always need to look at the cash value and miles required to get an accurate value of your miles.
For example, if a flight costs $1,000 or you need 20,000 miles, it means that your miles are worth 5 cents each. On the other hand, if you need the same 20,000 miles to get a $100 gift card, your miles only have a value of 0.5 cents each.
Unfortunately, many airline programs and credit card miles plans have dynamic pricing. This means that the miles cost of a flight can go up or down depending on the demand for the seats. So, if you’re booking a flight around the holidays, it is likely to cost more miles compared to traveling in October.
Which Airline Companies Have Credit Cards?
There are a number of airlines that have partnered with credit card companies to offer miles rewards.
The main companies include:
1. American Airlines
American Airlines operates its AAdvantage miles program and has partnered with Citi to offer a number of credit cards including the American Airlines AAdvantage MileUp℠ Card, Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®, and more.
American Airlines also has a partnership with Barclays, which provides the AAdvantage Aviator card line including Silver, Red, Blue and Aviator Business.
Each of these cards provides the opportunity to earn AAdvantage miles with your purchases. The specific number of miles you’ll earn will depend on the particular reward structure of your chosen card. Then, you can redeem AAdvantage miles for free flights, transfer it to another airline company or book a hotel through the AAdvantage program.
Here are the main American Airlines cards:
Card | Rewards | Bonus | Annual Fee |
| American Airlines AAdvantage MileUp℠ Card | 1X – 2X
2 AAdvantage miles per dollar on grocery stores and eligible American Airlines purchases, and 1 mile per dollar on other purchases
| 15,000 miles
15,000 miles if you spend $500 in first 3 months
| $0 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® | 1X – 2X
Earn 2 AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent at gas stations and restaurants, 2 AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases and 1 AAdvantage® mile for every $1 spent on other purchases. Earn 1 Loyalty Point for every 1 eligible AAdvantage® mile earned from purchases.
| 50,000 Miles
50,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after $2,500 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening
| $99 (waived for the first 12 months)
|
| AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® | 1X – 10X
10X AAdvantage® miles on eligible rental cars/hotels through aa.com, 4X miles on eligible American Airlines purchases and 1X on all other purchases
| 70,000 miles
70,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after spending $7,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening
| $525 |
2. Delta
The Delta SkyMiles loyalty program is only associated with one credit card issuer; American Express. There are four Delta SkyMiles American Express Cards; Blue, Platinum, Reserve, and the most popular Delta card – Delta Skymiles Gold American Express Card.
3 out of those 4 cards have an annual fee, but there are varying benefits from no foreign transaction fees to free checked bags on Delta flights and complimentary or reduced-price access to the Delta SkyClub airport lounges. There are many options to redeem Delta points such as free flights, upgrades, or transferring to another airline company.
Here are the main Delta cards:
Card | Rewards | Annual Fee |
| Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card | 1X – 2X
2X miles on delta purchases, at restaurants worldwide (including take-out and delivery in the U.S) and at U.S. supermarkets, and 1x miles on all other eligible purchases
| $150, $0 intro first year (Rates & Fees)
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Delta SkyMiles Blue American Express Card | 1X – 2X
2X miles for every dollar spent at restaurants worldwide and Delta purchases and 1X miles for every dollar spent on other eligible purchases
| $0 (Rates & Fees) |
| Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card | 1X – 3X
3X miles per dollar on eligible Delta flights and Delta Vacations® with 1X miles on all other purchases
| $650 (Rates & Fees) |
| Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card | 1X – 3X
3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels, 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets and 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases
| $350 (Rates & Fees) |
3. United Airlines
United has a partnership with Chase to offer Mileage Plus rewards on your purchases. There are currently four United credit cards.
The United Gateway card is a more basic rewards card with no annual fee, but you can earn miles on flights, gas, local transit, and commute. The top-of-the-line United card is the United Club Infinite card, which offers premium benefits including United Club membership, free checked bags, and the potential to earn miles on all your purchases.
While United miles are worth 1.4 cents per mile, you can redeem United miles for United flights including business and first class, partner flights, or Star Alliance upgrades.
Here are the main United cards:
Card | Rewards | Bonus | Annual Fee |
| United Club℠ Infinite Card | Up to 4x miles
4x miles on United Airlines purchases, 2x miles on all other travel purchases, dining and eligible delivery services and 1x miles on all other purchases
| 90,000 miles
90,000 bonus miles after qualifying purchases
| $525 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Quest℠ Card | Up to 3x miles
3 miles per $1 spent on United purchases immediately after earning your $125 annual United purchase credit, 2 miles on all other travel and select streaming services, 1 mile on all other purchases
| 60,000 miles
Earn 70,000 bonus miles + 500 Premier qualifying points (PQP)
| $250 |
| United Gateway℠ Card | 1X – 2X
2X per $1 spent on United® purchases, at gas stations and on local transit and commuting and 1X on all other purchases
| 20,000 miles
Earn 30,000 bonus miles after qualifying purchases.
| $0 |
| 1X – 2X
2X per $1 spent on United® purchases, dining (including eligible delivery services), at gas stations, office supply stores, and on local transit and commuting and 1X on all other purchases
| 75,000 miles
Earn 50,000 bonus miles + 1,000 Premier qualifying points (PQP) after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.
| $99 | |
| United Explorer Card | 1X – 2X
2x per $1 spent on United purchases, hotel accommodations, restaurants & eligible delivery services and 1x per $1 spent on all other purchases
| 50,000 miles
50,000 miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.
| $95 ($0 first year) |
4. Southwest Airlines
Southwest Airlines has four partnership credit cards with Chase. All the cards can help you to get to A-List status faster, with TQPs awarded according to your card spending and money back on your inflight purchases.
However, each tier of card offers additional benefits. The Rapid Rewards Priority card offers upgraded boarding and annual travel credit. The Rapid Rewards Premier and Rapid Rewards Plus both also offer two EarlyBird Check-ins per year.
5. Alaska Airlines
Alaska Airlines has partnered with Bank of America to offer the Alaska Airlines Visa.
This card has a modest annual fee, but you can enjoy a companion fare each year, free checked bags for you and up to six travel companions and no foreign transaction fees.
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Travel vs Co-Branded Airline Credit Cards: How They Compare
While we’ve discussed co-branded airline credit cards, it is important to point out that you can also earn travel rewards with travel credit cards. These are cards that are not tied to a particular airline or airline loyalty program.
If you’re particularly loyal to an airline and always fly with them, it makes sense to have a co-branded airline credit card. If this does not apply to you, then you may be better with a travel credit card.
Essentially, travel credit cards offer more generic rewards. Rather than receiving miles for a particular airline’s loyalty program, you’ll receive points or the credit card company’s own miles.
You can then redeem your rewards for travel purchases, with preferential redemption rates when you book your travel via the credit card company’s travel portal.
Some travel credit cards also allow you to redeem your rewards for statement credit, gift cards, and other things, such as magazine subscriptions, but these are generally at a lower redemption rate.
Here are some examples of the most popular travel cards:
Card | Rewards | Bonus | Annual Fee |
| Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card | 2X – 5X
5x total points on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 3x points on dining, online grocery purchases and select streaming services. 2x on other travel purchases. Plus, earn 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases.
| 60,000 points
60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
| $95
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TD First Class Visa Signature | 1X – 3X
3X First Class miles on travel and dining purchases and 1X First Class miles on all other purchases
| 25,000 miles
25,000 miles on $3,000 spent in first 6 cycles
| $89 (waived first year) |
| Capital One Venture X Rewards | 1X – 10X
10 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars when booking via Capital One Travel, 5 miles per dollar on flights and 2 miles per dollar on all eligible purchases
| 75,000 miles
75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening
| $395 |
| Citi Premier® Card | 1X – 10X
10X per dollar on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked through CitiTravel.com, 3X points on restaurant, supermarket, gas station, and air travel and other hotels purchases, and 1X points per dollar on all other purchases
| 75,000 points
75,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening, redeemable for $750 in gift cards or travel rewards on thankyou.com
| $95 |
| Chase Sapphire Reserve® | 1X – 10X
5X total points on air travel and 10X total points on hotels, car rentals and dining when you purchase through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, immediately after earning your $300 annual travel credit. Also, earn 3x points on dining at restaurants and travel (after meeting the $300 travel credit), then 1x points per dollar spent on all other purchases.
| 60,000 points
60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
| $550 |
| The Platinum Card® from American Express | 1X – 5X
5X points on up to $500,000 spent on directly-booked airfare and flights and prepaid hotels booked through American Express Travel (per calendar year), 2X points on prepaid car rentals through American Express Travel and 1X points on all other purchases
| 80,000 points
80,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $8,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership
| $695 (Rates & Fees) |
Travel vs Co-Branded Airline Credit Cards: How To Choose?
To figure out whether a travel credit card or a co-branded airline card is right for you, think about your travel habits and what kind of experience you’re after.
If you’re loyal to a specific airline, like United or American Airlines, you might enjoy the miles and extra travel benefits that come with a co-branded card.
On the other hand, if you prefer more flexibility and want to earn travel rewards without being tied to one airline, a general travel credit card could be a better fit.
The Pros and Cons of Airline Miles Credit Cards
As with all financial products and services, there are both positives and potential negatives associated with airline miles credit cards. It is important to be aware of the pros and cons before you make a decision.
Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
Generous Perks | Tied to a Specific Airline |
Elite Status | Minimal Redemption Methods |
Free Flights |
- Generous Perks
With an airline miles credit card, the perks tend to be tailored toward that airline. This means that you can enjoy some generous perks even if you’re not qualified for the premium cards.
Some of the more basic airline cards not only offer miles, but also lounge day passes, free checked bags, and other perks that can enhance your travel experience.
- Elite Status
Many airlines operate an elite status program and having a co-branded credit card can help you to accumulate more points to improve your status rank.
Some of the cards provide an elite point bonus if you meet a spending requirement each year, which could make the difference between a basic and higher level.
- Free Flights
An airline miles card is one of the easiest ways to score some free flights. You can accumulate your miles until you have sufficient to book your preferred flights.
- Tied to a Specific Airline
Since the cards are co-branded to an airline, you are somewhat tied to that airline.
Although it may be possible to transfer your miles to a partner airline, this can incur costs. So, you need to be fairly brand loyal to make the most of this type of card.
- Minimal Redemption Methods
As we’ve discussed, these cards typically offer the best redemption methods when you book flights.
However, you may find some cards are lacking in other redemption methods or the values make them unfeasible.
How to Choose an Airline Miles Credit Card
If you’re seriously considering an airline miles credit card, you need to know how to choose the right one for you.
While there may be plenty of airline card options on the market, there are a few factors that you can consider to narrow down the choices.
- Your Credit: First and foremost, you need to check your latest credit score and only apply for cards that are appropriate for your credit. There are some basic airline miles credit cards that are available even if you have less than perfect credit. However, the credit requirements are far more stringent if you’re looking at the premium cards.
- The Airline: This may be obvious, but it is the easiest way to narrow down the credit card options. Think about which is your favorite airline and which one you tend to use regularly. It is also worth paying attention to where the airlines have hubs and if you have one nearby.
- Rewards Rate: Ideally, you should be able to earn the maximum number of miles from your credit card without needing to change your spending habits and patterns. So, you should look for a credit card that fits your habits. If you travel frequently, a card that focuses on travel purchases is a solid choice, but for the less regular traveler, a card that rewards everyday purchases such as gas or grocery shopping would be better.
- Annual Fee: Generally speaking, the more perks a card offers, the higher the annual fee you can expect to pay. So, you’ll need to assess the value of those perks to you. There is no point in paying hundreds of dollars in an annual fee, if you’ll only visit an airport lounge once a year and rarely travel with many bags.
- Other Fees and Charges: Finally, it is worth assessing the fees and charges that will apply to your account. If you tend to travel abroad, look for a card with no foreign transaction fees. Unless you typically settle your account in full every month, prioritize a card with a low APR.
When It May Not Make Sense to Choose an Airline Miles Card?
As we’ve discussed, airline miles cards are linked to a specific airline, so they’re not the best choice if you don’t have a preferred carrier. If you’re someone who shops around for the best flight deals, regardless of the airline, a general travel credit card might be a better option.
It’s also worth considering whether an airline miles card is right for you if you don’t live near a major hub city. If you frequently need to take connecting flights to use your card benefits, it might not be worth it.
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Airline Miles Credit Card Alternatives
If you’re still unsure whether an airline miles credit card would be the best choice, it may be worth exploring the alternatives. These include:
- Travel Credit Cards: These are an excellent alternative for those who want to access travel perks but don’t want to be tied to a particular airline. These cards can still offer great benefits, but you may miss out on more airline-specific perks, such as free checked bags. However, you may be able to access airport lounge networks and get a statement credit for in-flight or travel purchases, which could offset anything you miss out on.
- Rewards Credit Cards: Although these may lack travel-specific perks, you can still accumulate rewards for your vacation plans if you don't tend to travel regularly. Most credit card companies have a travel portal that allows you to use your points to book flights, hotels, or car rentals. In some cases, you may even be able to exchange your points for miles with partnership airline programs.
FAQs
This depends on a number of factors including your travel dates, destination, elite status and more.
Many airline loyalty programs also have special offers periodically, so you will simply have to search and compare flights to get a rough idea of how many miles you’ll need for your possible itinerary.
Most airline-specific credit cards are available for those with good to excellent credit, so you may struggle if you only have fair credit.
In this scenario, you may need to look at more general reward cards or work on your credit until you have a better chance of qualifying.
Not typically, but some airlines do have partnerships with other airlines which may allow you to access some benefits.
No, it is quite difficult to get any type of rewards card with bad credit, particularly airline miles credit cards. You would need to focus on rebuilding your credit before you could attempt to obtain a miles credit card.
Generally, the annual fee is a good indicator of the benefits and rewards offered with the card.
So, it is unusual to find an airline miles credit card with no annual fee, but there are some exceptions such as the Amex Delta SkyMiles Blue card or the AAdvantage MileUp.
