Which credit card is best for air miles

Chase Sapphire Reserve – $300 Annual Travel Credit, 50% Travel Redemption Bonus

The Chase Sapphire Reserve® isn’t one of the best travel credit cards for beginners, but it’s one of the best credit cards for miles and premium perks. Its 50% travel redemption bonus makes the ongoing signup bonus worth more in award travel because each point is worth 1.5 cents each. This is one of the highest redemption values for credit card reward points.

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New Chase Sapphire Reserve® cardholders can earn 80,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That’s $1,200 toward travel when redeemed through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.

Chase Sapphire Reserve® purchases earn up to 10x Ultimate Rewards. Cardholders can earn unlimited: 

  • 10x total points on hotels and car rentals purchases through Chase Ultimate Rewards (after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually)
  • 10x total points on Chase Dining purchases with Ultimate Rewards
  • 5x total points on flights when you purchase travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards (after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually)
  • 3x points on other travel worldwide (after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually)
  • 3x points on other dining at restaurants, including eligible delivery services, takeout, and dining out
  • 1x points for all remaining purchases

 You will not receive rewards points on your first $300 in annual travel purchases as the annual travel statement credit reimburses these purchases.

There are also zero foreign transaction fees.

Bonus Chase Sapphire Reserve Rewards

The 50% bonus is great, but you might find more value with the 1:1 Chase Ultimate Rewards transfer partners (the same ones listed above). These airlines offer low-priced award flights and they don’t charge crazy fuel surcharge fees that other carriers tack onto “free” award tickets.

When your points are worth more than 1.5 cents each by transferring them to an airline, pursue this option.

Besides getting more mileage from each reward point, you can also save money with the annual $300 travel credit, free Global Entry or TSA PreCheck, and Priority Pass Select membership. These are just some of the many perks of the Chase Sapphire Reserve which make it one of the best miles credit cards.

Points are worth 50% more when redeemed for statement credits against existing purchases in select, rotating categories with the Chase Pay Yourself Back feature

The annual fee is $550 but is easily offset with the Chase Sapphire Reserve’s perks. This is the credit score you’ll need for the Chase Sapphire Reserve.

American Express Gold Card – 4x Points on Dining; 60,000 Points Bonus Offer

The American Express® Gold Card is an American Express option to consider.

American Express Gold Card cardholders earn 4X Membership Rewards® points at restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S., and earn 4X Membership Rewards® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X). Plus, earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com.

Another perk is the ability to earn up to $10 in statement credits on a monthly basis when you use your Gold Card to pay at the following dining establishments (enrollment is required):

  • Grubhub
  • The Cheesecake Factory
  • Goldbelly
  • Wine.com
  • Milk Bar
  • Shake Shack (only at participating locations)

This perk can save you up to $120 annually.

There are also no foreign transaction fees to worry about, but the annual fee is $250 (See Rates & Fees), which can easily be offset by the perks of this card.

New American Express® Gold Card cardholders can earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® points after spending $4,000 on eligible purchases within the first 6 months. New cardholders can choose between Gold or Rose Gold. Terms apply.

Learn more: Johnny Jet Recommended Credit Cards

The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card – Best for Unlimited Miles Earning on Purchases, 75k Miles Bonus Offer

Another Capital One option that you don’t want to miss is the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card that earns unlimited:

  • 10x miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
  • 5x miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel
  • 2x miles on all other purchases

Additionally, you can get 10,000 bonus miles every year, starting on your first anniversary. This is equal to $100 towards travel. You can use your miles to help pay for travel expenses or to transfer them to one of the Capital One travel transfer partners. 

Another benefit cardholders can enjoy is up to $300 back annually as statement credits for bookings through Capital One Travel.

If you’re interested in airport benefits, note that the Venture X Rewards also come with a fee credit of up to $100 for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry as well as Capital One lounge access and Priority Pass lounge access.  

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

The annual fee is $395, and there are no foreign transaction fees. 

The Platinum Card from American Express – Best Credit Card for Airline Purchases, 80,000 Bonus Points Offer

You would think that co-branded airline credit cards pay the most travel miles for airfare purchases. That’s not the case. The Platinum Card® from American Express is one of the best credit cards for airline miles and the best credit card for flight tickets.

The Platinum Card from American Express earns 5x Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel, up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year, and earns 5x Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.

New The Platinum Card® from American Express cardmembers can earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® points after spending $6,000 on purchases on their new Card in the first 6 months of Card Membership. Plus, they can apply and select their preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum Card®, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu.

Learn more: Johnny Jet Recommended Credit Cards

American Express Transfer Partners

You have a wide variety of 1:1 airline transfer partners including:

  • Aer Lingus
  • AeroMexico
  • Air Canada
  • Alitalia
  • ANA
  • Avianca
  • British Airways
  • Cathay Pacific
  • Delta
  • El Al
  • Emirates
  • Etihad
  • Air France KLM
  • Iberia
  • Hawaiian Airlines
  • JetBlue
  • Qantas
  • Singapore Airlines
  • Virgin Atlantic

Hotel transfer partners include:

  • Choice Hotels
  • Hilton
  • Marriott Bonvoy

The Platinum Card from American Express also comes with a few other premium travel perks like up to $200 air travel credit for incidental fees at one qualifying airline (in the form of a statement credit; enrollment required) and a fee credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck. In addition to enjoying TSA PreCheck or Global Entry access, cardholders can also enjoy CLEAR perks. Cardholders can use their Card and get up to $189 back per year on their CLEAR® membership. Terms apply.

Cardholders can get $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings, which requires a minimum two-night stay, through American Express Travel when paying with their Platinum Card®.

Also, get up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year in baggage fees and more at one select qualifying airline.

Plus, American Express has expanded The Centurion® Network to include 40+ Centurion Lounge and Studio locations worldwide. Now there are even more places your Platinum Card® can get you complimentary entry and exclusive perks.

Terms apply. Enrollment may be required.

Here’s how hard it is to get The Platinum Card from American Express.

The Platinum Card from American Express Benefits

There’s also a digital entertainment credit. Cardholders can get up to $20 in statement credits each month when they pay for eligible purchases with the Platinum Card® at their choice of one or more of the following providers: Peacock, Audible, SiriusXM, and The New York Times. Enrollment required.

Another exciting benefit is the ability for cardholders to get up to $300 back per calendar year on the Equinox+ digital fitness app or eligible Equinox club memberships when they pay with their Platinum Card. Enrollment required. 

There is also a $155 Walmart+ credit to enjoy. This covers the cost of a $12.95 monthly Walmart+ membership with a statement credit after you pay for Walmart+ each month with your Platinum Card. Cost includes $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax.

The annual fee is $695 (See Rates & Fees) but can be offset with the perks, which are valued at over $1,400. 

Learn more: Johnny Jet’s Recommended Credit Cards

Which credit card is best for air miles
Johnny and Natalie on an LAX to London American Airlines flight. Credit: Johnny Jet

What Are the Best Credit Cards for Travel Miles in 2022?

Here are our picks for the best miles credit cards in 2022. Use the table below to learn more about these cards and their bonuses:

  • Best overall: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
  • 60k Points Offer: American Express® Gold Card (Learn more: Johnny Jet Recommended Credit Cards)
  • Best Miles Credit Card: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
  • Best Airlines Miles Credit Card Premium: The Platinum Card® from American Express
  • Airline Credit Card for Incidental Fees: Chase Sapphire Reserve®
  • Business Credit Card: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
  • Best Air Miles Credit Card: Avianca Lifemiles credit cards

Best Credit Card for Airline Miles in the Star Alliance

The information for the Avianca Vida Visa® Card and the Avianca Vuela Visa® Card has been collected independently by Johnny Jet. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

The Avianca Lifemiles credit cards offer a simple signup bonus that is easy to earn. Below are the current welcome bonus offers for both airline miles credit cards:

Avianca Vida Visa® Card: 20,000 welcome bonus miles after first purchase.

Avianca Vuela Visa® Card: 40,000 welcome bonus miles after the first purchase.

This is the best credit card for airline miles from a Star Alliance airline.

Top Airline Credit Cards Table

Credit CardCategoryAnnual FeeRecommended Credit ScoreMore Information
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card Best travel cards for beginners $95 700 More info
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card Best miles credit cards $95 700 More info
The Platinum Card® from American Express Best airline miles credit card premium $695 (See Rates & Fees) 700+ More info
Chase Sapphire Reserve® Best airline credit card for incidental fees $550 780+ More info
Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card Best business credit cards $95 700+ More info
Avianca Lifemiles credit cards Best air miles credit cards $59 670+ More info

Chase Ink Business Preferred Credit Card – Best Business Credit Card for Travel Miles

The Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card holds the honor for having the most valuable Ultimate Rewards signup bonus and being one of the best business credit cards for travel.

Its sign-up bonus of 100,000 Ultimate Rewards points is worth $1,250 in award travel after spending $15,000 in the first 3 months of account opening. Additionally, you also have full access to the Chase 1:1 airline and hotel transfer partners. This helps make it the best miles credit card for businesses since you can transfer out points.

You earn 3x points on the first $150,000 in combined spending for travel purchases and select business purchases like online advertising, telecommunications, and office supply stores.

This Ink Business Preferred review offers further insight into how good this business card can be. The annual fee is $95.

British Airways Visa Signature Card

The British Airways Visa Signature® Card is known for its massive limited-time bonus offers.

New British Airways Visa Signature® Card cardholders can earn up to 100,000 Avios! New cardholders earn 75,000 Avios after spending $5,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening. Then, earn an additional 25,000 Avios after spending $20,000 in the first 12 months of account opening.

Cardholders earn 3 Avios per $1 spent on purchases with British Airways, Aer Lingus, Iberia, and LEVEL. Cardholders also earn 2 Avios per $1 spent on hotel accommodations when purchased directly with the hotel. Plus, earn 1 Avios per $1 spent on all other purchases.

Use your points to book a flight like the U.S. West Coast to Hawaii for 12,500 Avios each way on Alaska or American Airlines. Or, you can book short-haul flights within the U.S., Europe, or Asia starting at 4,500 each way. 

Spending $30,000 in a year also lets you get the Travel Together ticket. With this perk, your travel companion gets a free seat in the same cabin when you pay with points. You will still have to pay fees and taxes on this complimentary seat. This is easily one of the best air miles credit cards.

Learn more in our British Airways Visa Signature Card review. Aer Lingus and Iberia also have perks and bonuses on their Avios earning cards.

Are Miles Credit Cards Worth It?

Yes, miles credit cards are worth it when the bonus, perks, and benefits offset the annual fee. In many cases, the best credit cards for airline miles have bonuses over $500 and come with a free checked bag, travel credits, category spending bonuses, and TSA Precheck credit.

What Are The Best Miles Credit Cards?

  • The Best Overall: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
  • Best Miles Credit Card: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
  • Best Airlines Miles Credit Card Premium: The Platinum Card® from American Express
  • Airline Credit Card for Incidental Fees: Chase Sapphire Reserve®
  • Business Credit Card: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
  • Best Air Miles Credit Card: Avianca Lifemiles credit cards

What are the Best Airline Miles Credit Cards for Free Flights?

The average number of airline miles you need for a free flight depends on the airline you choose to fly with, your destination, and when you decide to travel. Keep in mind there are no completely free flights, even if you use your points. You’ll still have to shell out the cost of taxes and any applicable fees imposed by the carrier. The best airline miles credit cards help you book free flights faster.

Here’s what you need in regards to points for free flights, based on some of the biggest U.S.-based airlines.

Best Airline Credit Cards for Flights with American Airlines

American has AAnytime awards for seats on an American Airlines or American Eagle flight. Flights can cost around 20,000 miles each way, plus any applicable taxes and carrier-imposed fees.

They also have MileSAAver awards that are available for 7,500 miles each way (plus taxes and fees). There aren’t any blackout dates, so the availability of these types of fares may be more difficult to book. These are some of the best credit cards for American Airlines flyers and the best business credit cards to use for American Airlines.

Which credit card is best for air miles
American Airline’s credit card points for flights (Click to see full-size image)

Best Air Miles Credit Card for Free Flights with United Airlines

Similar to American Airlines, United has its Saver Award, which can be used for flying anywhere on United, United Express, and MileagePlus airline partners. One-way domestic flights cost anywhere from 10,000 to 50,000 points.

Which credit card is best for air miles
United miles award chart (Click to see full-size image)

Here’s a screengrab from United’s site, based on flights within the U.S. and Canada:

Saver Awards may require fewer points than their Everyday Awards. But again, it might be harder to find flights due to high demand. There are typically more seats available using Everyday Awards.

You can see the best United Airlines credit cards in this expert review. 

Best Credit Cards for Flights with Southwest Airlines

Reward pricing on Southwest Airlines depends on destination, time, date of travel, and other factors. One of the easiest ways to earn rewards with Southwest is to take advantage of the bonus offers that come with their credit cards.

Here are the best Southwest credit cards as well as the best Southwest business credit cards.

The easiest way to see how much fares cost is to go to their site and put in your flight information. At the top of the page, you can choose the “points” view.

The following screengrab will give you an idea of how much it costs for a coast-to-coast flight (LAX to NYC). It looks like points vary anywhere from 16,000 to 49,000 and higher.

Which credit card is best for air miles
Best airline miles credit cards for southwest airlines (Click to see full-size image)

Best Airline Miles Credit Card for JetBlue Flights

Redeeming points for a free flight on JetBlue requires a minimum of 3,500 points.

Which credit card is best for air miles
JetBlue award miles (Click to see full-size image)

JetBlue has a deals section — and one-way flights start at 7,600 points, plus taxes and fees. For domestic award flights, taxes/fees are $5.60 for one-way and $11.20 for round-trip flights. For international award flights, taxes/fees range from $5.60-$161.50 for one-way and $27.60-$171.60 for round-trip flights.

To find out exactly how many points you need for a particular flight, you need to visit JetBlue’s website and filter with the “points view.”

Air Miles for Award Flights with Alaska Airlines

Flights that can be redeemed with points range from 5,000 miles to 70,000, depending on long far you fly and what class ticket you book.

Which credit card is best for air miles
Alaska airline miles award chart

Alaska Airlines offers Money & Miles awards, in which you can get up to 50 percent off on most coach and first-class tickets. The maximum discount is $100 off of a base fare ticket for 10,000 miles or $200 of the base fare for 20,000 miles. They can still earn all of the miles flown when you choose this award.

Airline Miles for Reward Flights with Air Canada

Air Canada uses its Aeroplan program, and flights redeemed with points start at 15,000 points and go all the way to 260,000. Air Canada takes advantage of its robust airline partnerships, which means you can easily fly to over 1,300 destinations worldwide using the Star Alliance member airlines. See their helpful chart of how many points you need to redeem a free flight.

You may also take advantage of the Aeroplan® Credit Card is a co-brand Air Canada card with Chase. This card earns 3x points on:

  • Grocery store purchases
  • At restaurants (including eligible takeout and delivery)
  • On purchases made directly with Air Canada

All other purchases earn 1x point per $1 spent.

Additionally, cardholders can earn an additional 500 bonus points for every $2,000 spent in a calendar month (up to 1,500 points per month).

Along with a free first checked bag, this card also comes with a 24/7 concierge. Additionally, cardholders can get a fee credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®, or NEXUS. 

New Aeroplan® Credit Card cardholders can earn 70,000 points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months.

The annual fee is $95, and there are no foreign transaction fees. 

Related: Aeroplan Credit Card Review

Bottom Line When Looking at Best Airline Miles for Award Flights

The best way to earn points is to sign up for a travel credit card or airline-branded credit card. They offer simple ways to earn extra points.

The best travel miles credit cards for premium travelers include the Chase Sapphire Reserve, the Platinum Card from American Express, and more.

See our complete list of the best travel credit cards and use the one that is right for you.

Best Credit Card for Miles 2022

  • The Best Overall: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
  • Best Miles Credit Card: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
  • Best Airlines Miles Credit Card Premium: The Platinum Card® from American Express
  • Airline Credit Card for Incidental Fees: Chase Sapphire Reserve®
  • Business Credit Card: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
  • Best Air Miles Credit Card: Avianca Lifemiles credit cards

Consumer Best Airline Credit Cards 2022 From Airlines

If the premium cards are not worth it for you, consider these airline cards instead which have more reasonable annual fees. These are some of the best airline credit cards for the largest airlines.

Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card

The Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card is the most flexible of the four personal Delta credit cards for casual and regular flyers.

There’s also a 20% in-flight purchase credit and the first checked bag is free for you and up to 8 companions.

You get priority boarding on Delta flights plus Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding.

The Delta SkyMiles Gold Credit Card earns 2x Miles on Delta purchases, at restaurants worldwide (including takeout and delivery in the U.S.), and at U.S. supermarkets (1x Mile for everything else that is eligible). It also has 20% savings in the form of a statement credit after you use your Card on eligible Delta in-flight purchases of food, beverages, and audio headsets.

Additionally, you can Pay with Miles: take up to $50 off the cost of your flight for every 5,000 miles you redeem with Pay with Miles when you book on delta.com.

New Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card cardholders can earn 40,000 bonus miles after they spend $2,000 in purchases on their new Card in their first 6 months. 

The introductory annual fee of $0 for the first year, then $99 (See Rates & Fees).

Plus, Gold card members will receive a $100 Delta Flight Credit after spending $10,000 in purchases on their card in a calendar year. Cardholders can use the Credit for future travel.

Terms apply.

Learn more: Airline Credit Cards

United Explorer Card

The United℠ Explorer Card gives you priority boarding for everyone in your party and waives the first checked bag fee for you and one companion. You also get 25% back on United® inflight purchases, and two one-time United Club passes each year.

United also reimburses your Global Entry or TSA PreCheck fee and can get complimentary Premier Upgrades (when available). The $95 annual fee is waived for the first year.

This is one of the few airline cards to award bonus miles on non-airline purchases. You get 2x miles on dining and eligible delivery services, hotels, plus United® purchases. All non-bonus spending earns 1 mile per $1.

It is one of the best United credit card options.

New United℠ Explorer Card cardholders can earn 60,000 bonus miles after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.

Plus, there’s a $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $95.

Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard

The information for the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® has been collected independently by Johnny Jet. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

The Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® lets you and four travel companions on the same itinerary check the first bag free. You also get priority boarding, 25% in-flight savings, and a $125 flight discount when making $20,000 in annual card purchases and renew your card.

In addition to earning 2x miles on American Airlines purchases, you also earn double points at restaurants and gas stations.

The $99 annual fee is waived for the first year. New cardholders can earn 50,000 bonus miles by spending $2,500 in the first 3 months.

It is one of the many and best Citi credit card options that may work for you.

Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Card – Best Airline Miles Credit Card

Two annual benefits the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card gives you are a $75 Southwest travel credit and four Upgraded Bookings. 

Cardholders earn unlimited:

  • 3x points on Southwest® purchases
  • 2x points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare
  • 2x points on internet, cable, phone services, and select streaming purchases

With the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card, you can earn 75,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months. 

Each card anniversary, you also earn 7,500 bonus points.

One of the best Southwest credit card options, this card can get you even closer to a coveted Southwest Companion Pass®. Also, remember that Southwest offers all passengers to enjoy the first two checked bags for free. 

Which credit card is best for air miles
When should you transfer credit card points to airline miles?

When to Transfer Credit Card Points to Your Favorite Loyalty Program

Why Transfer Credit Card Points?

With airline miles credit cards like the Capital One Venture and Chase Sapphire Preferred, it’s easy to redeem accumulated miles for travel. Each card has a system for essentially erasing travel-related purchases from your monthly statement. So why would you want to transfer credit card points to your airline miles account?

The short answer is that doing so can often make your points go further. This is because it requires fewer points to book a flight. Obviously, if you would rather erase tour packages or Airbnb bookings, points and miles aren’t going to be very helpful on a frequent flyer account. Whether to transfer or not depends on what you want to do with the points you have.

When Should I Transfer Travel Points to Airline Miles?

You should opt to transfer credit card points to a participating air miles partner when the flight you want to book costs fewer miles when paid for with frequent flyer points than credit card points. Or when the credit card company offers additional miles when you transfer, exemplified in this Chase Sapphire Preferred review.

Often, credit card points or miles are worth 1 cent apiece. However, when transferred they sometimes get a boost if airlines value miles at something closer to 1.5 or 2 cents per mile. The deciding factor should be how many miles the flight costs with each method. If a domestic round-trip flight requires 25,000 Delta SkyMiles but would only cost $150 (or 15,000 credit card points), you would be wasting miles if you transfer them first. On the flip side, if that same flight costs a whopping $395 (or 39,500 credit card points), you’d be silly not to transfer and book through the airline.

It is important to keep in mind, however, each of the best credit cards for travel miles offers and bonuses to make sure you’re not cheating yourself out of earning additional points or miles.

The Best Credit Card for Travel Rewards Programs Examples

Chase Ultimate Rewards

The Chase Sapphire Preferred is often touted as the best credit card for travel on the market. One reason is that Chase allows you to transfer Ultimate Rewards points to participating frequent flyer programs. Those programs include Aer Lingus AerClub, Air Canada Aeroplan, British Airways Executive Club, Emirates, Flying Blue AIR FRANCE KLM, Iberia Plus, Korean Air SKYPASS, Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer, Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards, United MileagePlus, and Virgin Atlantic Flying Club. You can also transfer to hotel partners, including IHG Rewards Club, Marriott Bonvoy, and World of Hyatt.

Which credit card is best for air miles
Transferring Ultimate Rewards points to travel partners can help keep points active. (Click to see full-size image)

Points transferred are on a 1:1 ratio. This means that however many credit card points you have, that’s how many frequent flyer miles you’ll get. Keep in mind that when booking through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal, you’ll earn 25% more points than booking elsewhere with the Sapphire Preferred. That means in order to make a transfer of miles to an airline program worth it, the flight would have to cost at least 25% more through Chase Ultimate Rewards.

Keep in mind that once you transfer the points you can’t reverse the action to get them back into your Chase account. So make sure of your decision before you click!

How to Transfer Ultimate Rewards

To redeem points or transfer them, start on your Ultimate Rewards Dashboard. Book travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards by selecting “Redeem for travel” and you will be taken to a booking portal. But to transfer to Chase’s travel partners, select “Transfer your points” and choose from their list of airline and hotel partners. You’ll type in your frequent traveler account info and select how many points you want to transfer. It’s that easy.

American Express Membership Rewards Program

American Express credit cards have a larger pool of airline partnerships to choose from. There are more than 20 airline partners and three hotels to choose from. However, check carefully before transferring. While most programs offer a 1:1 rate, one or two, like JetBlue, offer fewer miles per credit card point. On the flip side, others, like Aeromexico, offer quite a few more, which makes transferring even more attractive.

Which credit card is best for air miles
Amex has many different airline travel partners to choose from to transfer points. (Click to see full-size image)

It’s often worth it to transfer points because Membership Rewards purchases only offer a value of 1 center per point maximum. Even less if you’re redeeming for any travel-related purchases other than airlines (like hotels or cruises).

How to Transfer Amex Points

To transfer American Express points, log in to your American Express account and go to the Transfer Points page. You’ll have to connect your existing frequent customer program account to your American Express account, just like with Chase. Choose the preferred frequent customer program to which you’d like to transfer points. Then, follow the step-by-step instructions to finish your transfer.

Transfers are usually immediate, though a few airlines can take up to a week to update your points total. The cost to transfer is negligible, but American Express does charge .06 cents per point for transfers (or 60 cents per 1,000 points).

Amex also doesn’t offer an even redemption value across the board. Nor do they offer one simple way to redeem points for travel purchases. Depending on the airline and whether you’re spending on hotels, taxis or other travel-related purchases, points can be worth as little as 5 cents per dollar. Make sure to do your homework before redeeming those miles. But, thankfully it’s almost always worth it to transfer to airline partners if redeeming with AmEx.

Summary on When You Should Transfer Credit Card Points to Airline Miles Credit Cards

The long and short of it: Before booking a flight through traditional channels and redeeming miles through statement credits, check to see how many airline miles would be required to purchase the flight in question through your frequent flyer account. You may be surprised at how many points you can save.

You should always try to redeem your travel miles when each point is worth at least one cent each. Getting a travel redemption bonus or having the ability to transfer travel miles directly to a loyalty program is a common trait of the best credit cards for travel miles.

Premium Co-Branded Airline Credit Cards for Miles

If you fly often, the three legacy carriers (American, Delta, and United) all offer a premium credit card. This premium airline credit card is the best option if you want lounge access, companion certificates, and a fast track to achieving elite status.

United Club Infinite Card

One of the main reasons to get the United Club℠ Infinite Card is for the complimentary United Club membership, a $650 value per year. Plus, get a fee credit of up to $100 for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck®, or NEXUS.

Cardholders earn 4x miles per $1 spent on United® purchases including tickets, Economy Plus®, inflight food, beverages and Wi-Fi, and other United charges. They also earn 2x miles per $1 spent on all other travel, 2x miles per $1 spent on dining, including eligible delivery services, and 1x mile per $1 spent on all other purchases.

Cardholders can also get 25% back as a statement credit on purchases of food, beverages, and Wi-Fi onboard United-operated flights when paying with their Club Infinite Card.

There is a $525 annual fee. 

This is one of the best United credit cards.

You and one companion also get two free checked bags. This card also comes with a host of Premier benefits from expedited security screening to complimentary seat upgrades (when available).

New United Club Infinite Card cardholders can earn 100,000 bonus miles after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard – American Airlines

The Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® gives you automatic Admirals Club membership for a $650 annual savings. Up to two guests or your immediate family traveling with you can accompany you to the Admirals Club.

This card’s annual fee is $450 but no foreign transaction fees on purchases. But, it can be worth it if you visit Admirals Club lounges regularly and will use the premium American Airlines perks often. 

Additional card benefits include a free first checked bag for you and up to 8 companions traveling with you on the same reservation on domestic American Airlines itineraries. You’ll also get priority check-in, security screening, and boarding plus 25% savings on American Airlines in-flight purchases. A Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit is also included. 

For a limited time, earn a total of 4 AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases through December 31, 2022. After that, earn 2 miles per $1 on eligible American Airlines purchases.

New Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® cardholders can earn 80,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after spending $5,500 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening.

Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card – Premium Delta SkyMiles Credit Card

The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card gives you Main Cabin 1 priority boarding and the first checked bag free on Delta flights for you and up to 8 travel companions. Cardholders can also enter Delta Sky Club® at no cost and bring up to two guests for an exclusive rate of $39 per person per visit when you fly Delta.

Plus, enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge or Escape Lounge – The Centurion® Studio Partner when you book your Delta flight with your Reserve Card.

One exciting reason to get this card is the annual Companion Certificate. Cardholders can receive a Domestic First Class, Delta Comfort+® or Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year upon renewal of their Card. *Payment of the government-imposed taxes and fees of no more than $75 for roundtrip domestic flights (for itineraries with up to four flight segments) is required. Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.

Receive upgrade priority over other Medallion Members within the same Medallion level and fare class.

Additional Perks

There is also a fee credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck. Cardholders earn 3x miles on Delta purchases and 1x mile for all other eligible purchases. 

This is one of the best Delta Airlines credit cards.

New Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card cardholders can earn 50,000 bonus miles and 10,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) after spending $5,000 in purchases on their new Card in their first 6 months.

Plus, earn up to 60,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) with Status Boost® per year. You can earn 15,000 MQMs after you spend $30,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, up to four times per year getting you closer to Medallion® Status. MQMs are used to determine Medallion® Status and are different than miles you earn toward flights.

The annual fee is $550, but there are no foreign transaction fees (See Rates & Fees). 

Learn more: Airline Credit Cards

You earn a set amount of miles per purchase according to the credit card rewards program. Each credit card has different redemption options. The most common travel redemptions options are:

Credit card miles are usually worth 1 cent each when redeemed for statement credits or future travel bookings. Their value can vary when you transfer them because each loyalty program assigns a different value to the points. However, your points are usually worth at least one cent each when redeeming for flights directly from the airline.

The number of miles needed to book award flights depends on factors including the airline, seat location, travel distance, time of year, and current cash value ticket price. Most airlines use floating award prices meaning the price fluctuates. A few airlines still use assign a fixed price so you pay the same amount.

Southwest Airlines is one of the lowest-cost carriers for domestic flights. A one-way flight can cost between 5,000 and 10,000 miles plus $5.60 fees and taxes. A major airline like United or American can charge 12,500 miles for a one-way flight in the main cabin across the United States. A one-way first-class flight within the U.S. can cost 25,000 plus fees and taxes.

For international travel, you may as little as 30,000 miles each way to visit Europe in the main cabin or as much as 155,000 miles for a premium cabin seat plus fees and taxes.

The Chase Sapphire Reserve is the best credit card for earning bonus miles with any airline. Your points are worth 50% more than cash reward when booking award travel on the Chase Ultimate Rewards travel center. You can also transfer them at a 1:1 ratio to airline partners including United Airlines, Southwest Airlines, British Airways, and Emirates.

If you regularly pay checked baggage fees and are loyal to a certain airline, getting a co-brand airline credit card is better. One of the best is the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card. The first checked bag is free for the primary cardholder and up to 8 companions on Delta flights.

The Platinum Card from American Express earns the most air miles for most plane ticket purchases. You earn 5 Membership Rewards per $1 on plane tickets purchased directly from the airline or on AmexTravel.com, up to $500,000 spent annually. Most cards only award up to 3 points per $1 on plane ticket purchases.

The Business Platinum Card® from American Express is the best small business card. It earns 5x Membership Rewards® points per $1 on flights and prepaid hotels booked on AmexTravel.com. Like personal credit cards, most business cards award up to 3x points per $1 on travel purchases.

Cardholders earn 1.5x points (that’s an extra half point per dollar) on eligible purchases at US construction material & hardware suppliers, electronic goods retailers and software & cloud system providers, and shipping providers, as well as on purchases of $5,000 or more everywhere else, on up to $2 million of these purchases per calendar year.

Additionally, unlock over $1,000 in annual statement credits on a curation of business purchases, including select purchases made with Dell Technologies, Indeed, Adobe, and U.S. wireless service providers.

Plus, get up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year toward checked baggage fees, lounge day passes, and more at one selected airline.

Other airport benefits include a $189 annual CLEAR® credit when you use your Card to enroll in CLEAR® membership. CLEAR® is available at more than 50 U.S. airports and stadiums.

Also, get access to more than 1,400 airport lounges across 140 countries and counting with The American Express Global Lounge Collection®. You’ll have more lounge location options than any other credit card on the market (as of 9/2021).

An airline credit card partners with a specific airline loyalty program. Branded airline credit cards only offer bonus travel rewards like free checked bags or inflight purchase credits for that specific airline. These cards also earn frequent flyer miles on every purchase. For instance, a United Airlines credit card earns MileagePlus miles on every card purchase. 

Travel credit cards earn bonus credit card miles on almost every travel purchase, regardless of which airline or hotel it is. These credit cards also let you redeem your points for travel purchases on multiple carriers. Premium travel credit cards offer additional travel benefits like statement credits or airport lounge access that are not connected to a specific airline.

Most air miles expire after 24 months of frequent flyer account inactivity. You must usually earn more miles within this period to renew your miles.

Delta SkyMiles and Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards rewards don’t expire if your frequent flyer account remains in good standing. Other smaller or international-based airlines may have a no-expiration policy. Check your frequent flyer account terms to see their most current policy. 

A lot of branded airline credit cards charge an annual fee of at least $95 up to $695 each year. Some of these cards waive the annual fee for the first 12 months. The more expensive cards usually offer more add-on benefits like lounge passes or an annual one-time companion ticket.

A couple of airlines offer a card with no annual fee, but this card doesn’t include extra benefits like free checked bags or priority boarding. One example is the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card (See Rates & Fees). It earns 2x miles per dollar at restaurants worldwide, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S. Additionally, earn 2x miles per dollar spent on Delta purchases and 1x mile on all other eligible purchases. Plus, you can Pay with Miles: take up to $50 off the cost of your flight for every 5,000 miles you redeem with Pay with Miles when you book on delta.com. It also gives you 20% in-flight savings on food, beverage, and audio headset purchases.

For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card, please click here.

Rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card, please click here.

For rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express, please click here.

For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, click here. 

And for rates and fees of The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, please click here.

Which is the best card to earn miles?

Best Credit Cards for Miles Overall: KrisFlyer UOB: 3mi/S$1 on dining, transport, shopping & travel. UOB PRVI Miles: Fee-Waiver + 20k bonus miles, 2.4 miles per $1 overseas. Amex SIA KrisFlyer: Directly earn KrisFlyer miles, S$150 SIA credit. OCBC 90°N: Unlimited miles and cashback.

Which airline credit card has the most benefits?

The best airline credit card overall is the JetBlue Plus Card because it has a reasonable annual fee ($99) and offers a lot of bonus rewards. The card's initial bonus is 80,000 points for spending $1,000 in the first 90 days.

What is the best way to earn air miles?

Focus on Where You Fly..
Consider Airline Partners..
Get a Points or Miles Bonus..
Choose the Right Credit Card..
Dine Out..
Use Shopping Portals..
The Bottom Line..

Can you get air miles with a credit card?

Air miles credit cards allow you to earn points when you spend on the card, which you can then use towards the cost of future trips - and other perks. They can often be used to reduce the cost of flights, put towards upgrades, or to get money off the price of hotels and car hire or even wine, for example.