I don’t travel often enough to have an airline credit card, but for many Americans, it’s an essential tool for earning rewards points and receiving travel perks like access to airport lounges.
An average of 1 in 4 American households has an airline credit card, and there are many reasons why applying for one is a good idea. Here’s why it could be a good move for avid travelers, and a few things you should consider before applying.
Benefits of airline credit cards
If there’s a specific airline you like to travel on, applying for its credit card can be a great way to earn benefits. One of the most significant benefits of an airline credit card is the ability to earn free flights.
The more you use your airline credit card, the more free miles you earn. Generally, 25,000 to 30,000 credit card miles will earn you a round-trip economy flight in the United States. But some one-way tickets may cost as little as 5,000 credit card miles.
Of course, there are a lot of other benefits of airline credit cards, including:
- Access to airport lounges
- Priority check-in and priority boarding
- Free checked bags
- Discounts on in-flight purchases
- An annual companion pass that allows someone to travel with you at a cheaper price
One of the great things about using an airline credit card is that you can earn rewards without thinking much about it. Each airline credit card will earn rewards in a different way, but many will earn rewards when you make purchases and may even offer bonus miles for purchases in specific categories like restaurants.
A few factors to keep in mind before getting an airline credit card
While an airline credit card is an excellent option for many travelers, there are a few things you should keep in mind before applying for one:
- Fees: You can find airline credit cards with no fee, but cards with annual fees may offer more benefits. These fees vary in range from $95 to $650.
- Bonuses: Some airline credit cards offer welcome bonuses. For example, some Delta credit cards offer bonus miles after you’ve spent a specific amount using the card within an introductory period.
- Credit score: Many airline credit cards require good or excellent credit scores, usually in the mid to high 600s. If your score is low, consider working on raising it before you apply.
- Benefits can change: There’s no guarantee that all perks will stick around permanently when you get an airline card. Sometimes, an airline may increase the miles required to earn free flights or increase the annual fee.
When an airline credit card isn’t right for you
If you fly infrequently, an airline credit card probably isn’t the right choice for you. But there are plenty of other reward cards out there that might be right for you.
For example, I use a cash back Amazon credit card to earn money back on many purchases. I usually don’t touch the money I’ve earned throughout the year and use it to help cover Christmas presents.
Whichever type of card you use, it’s generally a good idea to have some sort of credit card that offers you rewards or cash back for the purchases you make most often. After all, if you’re going to spend money anyway, you may as well get rewarded for it.
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