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Airline Credit Cards

At CreditCardAssist.com, we have provided a wide variety of advice, tips, and free information and it's our primary goal to help you find the very best air miles cards available anywhere.

We've listed what we think to be the very best miles card offers (ranked in order of importance from top to bottom) available anywhere in the marketplace below.

Editor’s Pick

United MileagePlus® Explorer Card

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Earn up to 40,000 bonus miles & first year free, a $95 value*
First checked bag is free for you and a companion when you fly United flights, up to a $50 value
Board your flight before general boarding with priority boarding privileges
Visit the United Club with two complimentary day passes every year, up to a $100 value
Earn 2 miles for each $1 spent on airline tickets purchased from United and 1 mile per $1 for everything else
Your miles don't expire and there is no limit to the number of miles you can earn

Intro Rate

Intro Period

Reg. Rate

Annual Fee

Balance
Transfers

Credit Needed

N/A*

15.24% (Variable)

$95, waived the first year*

Yes*

Excellent*

Editor's Review: The ALL-NEW United MileagePlus® Explorer Card from Chase gives cardholders the opportunity to earn airline miles on any United flight with every purchase. Cardholders and earn up to 40,000 bonus miles on top of all the other perks and benefits offered. ...more info

Capital One® Venture(SM) Rewards Credit Card

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Money® Magazine's "Most Rewarding Card if you crave free airline flights"
2 miles per dollar on every purchase, every day
Earn 10,000 bonus miles, equal to $100 in travel
Redeem your miles for ANY travel expense
No limit on the miles you can earn and miles won't expire
Fly free on any airline, any time with no blackout dates
No foreign transaction fees
$0 intro annual fee for the first year; $59 after that

Intro Rate

Intro Period

Reg. Rate

Annual Fee

Balance
Transfers

Credit Needed

N/A*

13.9% - 20.9% (V)*

$0 intro for first year; $59 after that

Yes

Excellent Credit

Editor's Review: The Capital One® Venture(SM) Rewards Credit Card is a travel rewards card that earns you Double Miles on every purchase and more. With premium travel benefits as well as everyday protections, you can take the road less traveled by and not worry along the way! ...more info

Capital One® VentureOne(SM) Rewards Credit Card

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1.25 miles per dollar on every purchase, every day
Earn 10,000 bonus miles, equal to $100 in travel
Redeem miles for airline tickets, hotel rooms, car rentals and more
No limit on the miles you can earn and miles won't expire
Fly free on any airline, any time with no blackout dates
0% intro APR on purchases until May 2013
No foreign transaction fees
No annual fee

Intro Rate

Intro Period

Reg. Rate

Annual Fee

Balance
Transfers

Credit Needed

0% on Purchases*

Until May 2013*

11.9% - 19.9% (V)*

None*

Yes*

Excellent Credit

Editor's Review: The Capital One® VentureOne(SM) Rewards Credit Card sets you free to travel wherever you want with no blackout dates or seat restrictions, no annual or foreign transaction fees, either. ...more info

Miles by Discover® Card

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Earn 10,000 Bonus Miles with every $2,000 in purchases within the first 6 months – up to 20,000 Bonus Miles
1 Mile on every $1 you spend - Plus flexible redemption options like travel credits, merchandise, gift cards or cash
0% intro APR on balance transfers for 12 months, then the variable purchase APR of 10.99% - 15.99%*
No restrictions on travel--fly on any airline, book any hotel or car, with no blackout dates
Travel benefits include secondary collision damage insurance when you rent a car with your Miles by Discover card
Discover is ranked #1 in customer loyalty--16 years in a row! (2012 Brand Keys Customer Loyalty Engagement Index report)
Great rewards with no annual fee, no rewards redemption fee, and no additional card fee
*Click apply to view rates, fees, rewards, limitations and other important information

Intro Rate

Intro Period

Reg. Rate

Annual Fee

Balance
Transfers

Credit Needed

0% on Purchases, Balance Transfers*

6 Months*

10.99% - 16.99% (Variable)*

$0*

Yes*

Excellent Credit*

Editor's Review: Those shopping the market for miles credit cards should seriously consider the Miles Card from Discover. This card is a great match for someone with very good credit who is interested in taking advantage of the lucrative travel rewards provided. Cardholders can earn free airline miles based on their purchases ...more info

Escape by Discover® Card

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Earn up to $250 in travel rewards--1,000 Bonus miles every month you make a purchase for the first 25 months
Double Miles on every $1 you spend
0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 6 months, then the variable APR of 10.99% - 16.99%*
No restrictions on travel--fly on any airline, book any hotel or car, with no blackout dates
Flexible redemption options like travel credits, merchandise, gift cards or cash
Travel Insurance benefits, including primary car rental, lost or damaged luggage, travel delay, and trip cancellation when you book with your Escape by Discover card
Discover is ranked #1 in customer loyalty--16 years in a row! (2011 Brand Keys Customer Loyalty Engagement Index report)
*Click apply to view rates, fees, rewards, limitations and other important information

Intro Rate

Intro Period

Reg. Rate

Annual Fee

Balance
Transfers

Credit Needed

0% on Balance Transfers, Purchases*

6 Months*

10.99% - 16.99%* (Variable)

$60*

Yes*

Excellent Credit*

Editor's Review: Escape by Discover® Card, issued by Discover, is an outstanding travel rewards card that's suited perfectly for cardholders interested in earning travel points or airline miles quickly. The Escape by Discover® Card rewards program automatically gives cardholders 1,000 miles for every month a purchase is made with the card for the first 25 months after the cardholder opens the account. ...more info

British Airways Visa® Signature Card

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You will get 50,000 bonus Avios after your first purchase
25,000 bonus Avios after you make $10,000 in purchases within the first year of account opening
Plus an additional 25,000 bonus Avios after you make an additional $10,000 in purchases also within the first year of account opening
That's enough Avios for one roundtrip business class reward ticket
New: Smart Chip Technology allows you to use your card for chip based purchases in Europe & beyond, while still giving you the ability to use your card as you do today at home.
Pay no foreign transaction fees when you travel abroad
In addition to the bonus, you will also get 2.5 Avios for every $1 spent on British Airways purchases and 1.25 Avios for every $1 spent on all other purchases
Every calendar year you make $30,000 in purchases on your British Airways Visa card, you'll earn a Travel Together Ticket good for two years

Intro Rate

Intro Period

Reg. Rate

Annual Fee

Balance
Transfers

Credit Needed

N/A*

15.24%*

$95*

Yes*

Excellent Credit*

Editor's Review: The British Airways Visa Signature Card, which is issued by Chase, is a great choice for anyone with excellent credit. It is particularly attractive to those who travel, especially if their preferred mode of transportation is with British Airways. ...more info

Blue Sky from American Express®

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7,500 bonus points when you spend $1,000 within 3 months - redeemable for a $100 statement credit.
No annual fee.
Travel rewards with no blackout dates or travel restrictions. Redeem with any airline, any car rental, any hotel - anytime.
Pay your bill all at once, or over time. It's up to you.
Blue Savings Program®: big deals on big brands, all the time.
Get a decision in as little as 60 seconds.

Intro Rate

Intro Period

Reg. Rate

Annual Fee

Balance
Transfers

Credit Needed

See Terms*

17.24%-22.24% Variable

No Annual Fee

N/A*

Excellent

Editor's Review: The Blue Sky from American Express® is a pretty versatile rewards card but is great as an airline credit card specifically. Cardholders earn one point for each dollar spent on the card with an unlimited amount of points or miles that can be earned. One of the best things about the card as an airline rewards card is that points can be used for discounts on flights, hotels, rental cars, or cruises, without travel restrictions or blackout dates. ...more info

Gold Delta SkyMiles(R) Credit Card from American Express

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Earn 30,000 bonus miles toward Award Travel when you spend $500 on the Card in the first three months from account opening
$0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95
Check your first bag FREE – for up to 9 people on your reservation – on every Delta flight
Receive double miles on Delta purchases and 1 mile for all other eligible dollars spent
Priority Boarding and 20% In–Flight Savings

Intro Rate

Intro Period

Reg. Rate

Annual Fee

Balance
Transfers

Credit Needed

See Terms*

15.24% - 19.24% Variable

See Terms*

Yes*

Excellent

Editor's Review: The Gold Delta SkyMiles Credit Card, issued by American Express, was created specifically for those interested in obtaining air miles rewards from Delta Airlines. The Gold Delta SkyMiles Credit Card provides one mile to cardholders for every dollar spent on general purchases using the card. Purchase made at certain participating retailers and with certain merchants earns ...more info

Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card from Chase

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Now! Earn a Free Flight after your first purchase
Get 3,000 Points every year on your Cardmember Anniversary - which can be redeemed for a $50 Wanna Get Away® Fare
Now you can redeem for International Travel, Hotels, Gift Cards and more.
Earn unlimited Free Flights - 2 Points per $1 Spent on Southwest Purchases and 1 Point per $1 Spent on everything else
Your Bags Fly Free! No Blackout Dates, Points Don't Expire, and Unlimited Reward Seats!
No Change fees - if you need to change your flight, you won't be charged a fee.
September 11th Security Fee Applies

Intro Rate

Intro Period

Reg. Rate

Annual Fee

Balance
Transfers

Credit Needed

N/A*

15.24% (Variable)*

$69.00*

Yes*

Excellent*

Editor's Review: The Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card from Chase is an invaluable card for anyone who regularly flies with Southwest Airlines ...more info

Mileage cards or airline miles credit cards earn cardholder's points or frequent flyer credits. Whenever the cardholder uses an airline credit card for purchases, he or she will earn points. Typically, the cardholder earns one point or mile for each dollar charged on the card. After accumulating points from the dollar amount of card purchases over time, cardholders can redeem the points for free air travel or upgrades from coach to first class.

Airline credit cards can offer outstanding value. Because of the annual fees and higher APR's, however, they are only suitable for certain cardholders. Air miles card offers are best suited for individuals that pay off their balance every month and use their cards frequently. If you fit that profile, you can really benefit from the use of mileage cards.

The cards work similarly to how one might utilize frequent flyer miles on any airline. When you search and compare this type of offer, be aware that rewards are based on predetermined point levels. So, make sure you find out how many points you'll need to accumulate in order to qualify for free air travel.

Also, be sure to know when points will expire on your card. If you don't use your mileage points within a certain amount of time, be cautious. If your card is inactive for an extended period, your points can expire. Since the top card reward programs tend to be very costly for card issuers, most miles card offers usually come with an annual fee. These cards also tend to have higher interest rates than other comparable cards.

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Looking for more articles and free information on airlines credit cards? We've provided more articles, tips, advice and resources below:

Do Airline Credit Cards Offer Value? - Airline cards offer a wide variety of rewards programs, designed to appeal to consumers. However, without a clear understanding of the real-world value of air mile reward "points", consumers may find themselves dissatisfied. So before applying, consumers should take a detailed look at the sometimes-complicated real-world value of their particular "points" system...
Making the Most of Your Miles Credit Cards - Miles card users may be frustrated with their existing card but frequent travelers can learn how to make the most out their miles credit cards.
Using Your Miles to Book a Flight - Although most of the frequent flyer programs available seem to be very attractive, cardholders usually will have to make some sacrifices in order to use the miles they have accumulated. The fact that you might need to make some sacrifices to take advantage of your miles raises the question about whether it's worth it to sign up for the program. To answer that question...