Most people focus on an airline credit card’s airline mile earning potential. However, some of an airline-specific credit cards biggest perks might actually have nothing to do with miles at all. Perks like free checked baggage, priority boarding and airport lounge access make it easier for more-casual fliers to reap the benefits of airline loyalty without having to fly once or twice per week to earn enough airline miles for top-tier status.
While miles-earning is still an important part of owning an airline specific credit card (it probably wouldn’t be worth it to get a card for the perks alone), these perks can really make it worthwhile to have a card even if it carries an annual fee.
Here are the best airline credit card based on their perks.
United Airlines has a credit card with some impressive perks. The United Mileage Plus Explorer Card features airport lounge passes for United and Continental airport lounges and free baggage check for the first checked bag on each flight. The card has a $95 annual fee, which is waived for the first year of membership. Some of the perks of the Explorer Card do not have a dollar value, per se, but do offer a nice level of convenience. These types of perks include priority boarding and being first in line for upgrades. Since it is issued in partnership with Chase, card-holders also have access to Chase’s perks such as online bill pay.
The Delta Skymiles American Express Gold Card is another credit card from a legacy carrier that is worth considering. This AmEx offering has perks that go beyond miles-earning (although the 20,000 bonus miles for new users is definitely a good deal). The card-holder and their traveling companions can check one bag for free on all Delta flights. That is a $25 value for each checked bag, so you can easily cover the $95 annual fee each year with only a few flights. (The Skymiles card’s annual fee is waived for the first year of membership). Like the United Explorer, the Delta Skymiles card offers priority boarding to cardholders. The annual fee can be offset with an annual $99 companion ticket that is awarded each year that cardholders renew their membership.
The Chase Sapphire Card is not associated with any airline but it is a good choice for cardholders who fly frequently. This has one major perk for foreign travelers: no foreign transaction fee. These international spending fees can tack 3-4% onto every purchase that you make overseas. Also, if you spend more than $3,000 in the first three months, you can earn rewards that are equal to more than $600. The American Express Platinum Card is another non-airline travel rewards card with big benefits. The biggest list of benefits in the industry, in fact. The Platinum carries a steep annual fee ($450), but offers access to airport lounges and international concierge service as well as annual companion tickets and travel and shopping deals. If you do not fly one specific airline and are in search of big-time perks, the Platinum might just be worth the annual fee.
The Virgin Atlantic Credit Card offers good miles-earning ratios and also lounge access to the airline’s Regus lounges. Cardholders also have an advantage when it comes to earning elite status from the airline. Unfortunately, this airline is limited in its stateside service, so it is really only useful for regular Europe visitors.
Some airlines offer perks that are not associated with a card but the card is worthwhile given the miles-earning potential. Both JetBlue and Southwest have cards that earn significantly more miles than their legacy carrier competition. Of course, in order to qualify for the miles, you have to make purchases through the airline’s website. Both these airlines already offer free checked baggage, so other perks are limited.