Airline Credit Cards Can Be the Ticket to a Better Flying Experience

These are the best cards from major airlines, as vetted by our editors and experts.

What are airline credit cards and how do they work?

Sometimes you could use those airline points to book flights on a partner airline, too.

However, they’re not as flexible as general travel credit cards.

In most cases, you could only earn and use rewards with the airline the card is tied to.

You earn rewards by using the airline credit card on day-to-day purchases.

These points can later be redeemed for free flights.

Some airline credit cards offer bonus points for different categories, like restaurants or grocery stores.

“Most people dive into airline credit cards before they really need to,” Menez said.

And also, look at your wallet, what kind of cards do you currently have?"

Those who fly frequently can take advantage of airport lounge access, waived baggage fees and priority boarding.

The value of these perks can add up.

Plus, early boarding often guarantees overhead bin space, giving you more legroom and less stress.

Be sure you’re using your card where it earns the most.

See which set of perks best matches your needs.

Some airlines may set expiration dates for miles, but others don’t.

Take a look at your card’s terms and conditions to see.

It’ll vary from airline to airline and depend on your destination and schedule.

What differs is what you might do with them.

Credit cards that earn miles typically have more redemption options than co-branded airline cards.

Points may also be worth more cents per point when transferred strategically, making the return even greater.

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