Credit Cards that Offer Flashy Rewards like Airline Miles Often

Credit cards that offer flashy rewards like airline miles often come with a catch: they can be pricey. Some cards charge annual fees as high as $550.

These cards typically offer a sign-up bonus of 50,000 to 100,000 miles, which can be redeemed for a free flight or hotel stay. The miles can be transferred to partner airlines, making them more valuable.

However, the rewards often come with restrictions, such as blackout dates or limited availability.

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Credit cards with airline miles can be a great way to earn rewards on your daily purchases. You can earn miles that can be redeemed for flights, hotel stays, and other travel-related expenses.

Some credit cards offer a one-time bonus of airline miles after meeting a minimum spend requirement. For example, the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card offers 75,000 miles after spending $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening.

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Other credit cards offer ongoing rewards in the form of miles per dollar spent. The Alaska Airlines Visa Signature credit card, for instance, offers 1x - 3x miles per dollar on various purchases.

If you're looking for a credit card with no annual fee, consider the U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card. It offers an initial bonus of 20,000 points for spending $1,000 in the first 90 days, worth $200 toward travel.

Some credit cards also offer priority boarding benefits, such as the Alaska Airlines Credit Card, which offers priority boarding benefits to cardholders.

Here are some credit cards with airline miles that are worth considering:

Keep in mind that these are just a few examples, and there are many other credit cards with airline miles available. Be sure to read the terms and conditions of any credit card before applying to ensure it meets your needs and rewards structure.

If you're looking for credit cards that offer airline miles without being tied to a specific airline, there are other options available. The U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card offers an initial bonus of 20,000 points for spending $1,000 in the first 90 days, worth $200 toward travel.

One of the benefits of this card is that it has a $0 annual fee, making it a great option for light spenders. The card also earns 5 points per $1 on prepaid hotels and car rentals booked directly in the Altitude Rewards Center.

Some business credit cards, like the U.S. Bank Business Altitude Connect World Elite Mastercard, offer airline miles without being tied to a specific airline. This card gives 60,000 points for spending $6,000 in the first 180 days.

If you're a business owner, it's worth considering cards that offer rewards on travel, gas, and EV charging stations. The U.S. Bank Business Altitude Connect World Elite Mastercard earns 4 points per $1 spent in these categories.

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Here are some key features of the U.S. Bank Altitude Connect cards:

These cards offer a range of rewards and benefits, and can be a great option for those who want to earn airline miles without being tied to a specific airline.

If you're looking to earn airline miles with your business, the United Business Card is a great option. The card offers a generous initial bonus of 75,000 miles after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months.

You'll also enjoy a $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $99. This can be a significant cost savings, especially if you're just starting out with your business.

The card's rewards structure is straightforward, with 1x - 2x miles per dollar earned on purchases. This means you can earn a decent amount of miles on your business expenses.

To give you a better idea of the card's value, here's a quick breakdown of its benefits:

The United Business Card is a solid choice for business owners who want to earn airline miles.

If you're looking for an airline credit card with a generous initial bonus offer, the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card is a great option, offering 60,000 points.

The JetBlue Plus Card is ideal for those loyal to one airline, with a 50,000-point initial bonus offer and a relatively low annual fee of $99.

Delta SkyMiles credit cards are a good choice for fans of the airline, with the Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card offering a 50,000-mile initial bonus with a $0 intro first year and $150 after.

The Alaska Airlines Credit Card offers a higher initial bonus of 70,000 miles, making it a great option for those who frequently fly with the airline.

Here's a comparison of some popular airline credit cards:

To earn elite status with an airline credit card, you'll typically need to spend a certain amount of money each year, such as $50,000 with the Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card or the JetBlue Plus Card.

If you're a frequent flyer with American Airlines, consider the Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard, which offers a 50,000-mile bonus after spending $2,500 in the first three months.

This card's rewards rate is 2 miles per dollar on eligible American Airlines purchases, gas stations, and restaurants, and 1 mile per dollar on all other purchases. You'll also get priority boarding, 25% off in-flight food and beverage purchases, and a free checked bag for yourself and up to four travel companions.

The Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard has a $99 annual fee, but it's waived the first year. Other AAdvantage credit cards, like the Citi / AAdvantage MileUp, offer similar benefits but with different rewards rates.

Here are some of the best airline credit cards for specific airlines:

The Wells Fargo Autograph Journey card is a good option if you don't want to commit to a specific airline, offering 60,000 points after spending $4,000 in the first three months, worth $600 in travel. Its rewards rate is 5 points per dollar on hotels, 4 points per dollar on airlines, and 1 point per dollar on other purchases.

The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card offers 75,000 miles after spending $4,000 in the first three months, equal to $750 in travel. It also earns unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day.

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Rewards and benefits are a huge part of what makes credit cards with airline miles so attractive.

The Capital One VentureOne Rewards credit card offers a $0 annual fee and no foreign transaction fees, making it a great option for travelers. It also earns 1.25X miles on every purchase, every day.

Some credit cards offer more substantial rewards, like the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card. This card has a higher annual fee of $149, but it comes with a 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 in the first 3 months, plus an anniversary bonus of 7,500 points and an annual $75 Southwest credit.

If you're a Frontier Miles member, you'll soon be able to redeem your miles for bag and seat bundles, starting in mid-2025. These bundles include perks like preferred seats, checked bags, and more.

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You can earn a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles with the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card, equal to $750 in travel, after spending $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening.

The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card offers a similar bonus, earning 75,000 miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.

The Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card provides a nice initial bonus: 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 in the first 3 months of opening an account.

Additionally, the Southwest Priority Card also provides 7,500 points as an anniversary bonus and an annual $75 Southwest credit.

You can redeem miles for bag and seat bundles with Frontier, starting in mid-2025, which include various perks like preferred seats, checked bags, and more.

Here's a quick rundown of the rewards and benefits offered by these credit cards:

The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card also offers a $300 annual credit for bookings through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options.

An airline credit card is a type of credit card affiliated with a specific airline or group of airlines. You can earn miles or points with these cards that can be redeemed for free flights.

Making purchases with an airline card gets you miles or points that you can redeem for free flights. This is a great way to save money on travel.

Being a cardholder may get you benefits such as priority boarding and free checked bags with the affiliated airline and its partners. These perks can make a big difference in your travel experience.

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