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The 6 best airline credit cards: Earn travel points
Looking for the best credit card for your business? Today, there is no shortage of rewards credit cards on the market that allow you to earn points through your regular spending. And for business owners or employees who travel often, a business airline credit card is an excellent way to earn points from travel you're already doing.
But how do you decide which airline credit card is right for your business? There are plenty of options to choose from, and they're sure to be the perfect cards for your business. Keep reading to learn the best airline credit cards for businesses and how to decide which is right for you.
Here are our top picks for the best airline credit cards:
- Earn 1.5X miles* on eligible transit and U.S. shipping purchases, plus single eligible purchases of $5,000 or more. Terms and miles cap apply. *If your purchase qualifies for a category that has a higher mileage accelerator, only the higher accelerator will apply.
- Earn 1.5X miles* on eligible transit and U.S. shipping purchases, plus single eligible purchases of $5,000 or more. Terms and miles cap apply. *If your purchase qualifies for a category that has a higher mileage accelerator, only the higher accelerator will apply.
The Delta SkyMiles Platinum Business card is designed for businesses who fly with Delta and want to enjoy some extra travel perks. Beyond earning miles on purchases, it offers travel benefits including a free checked bag and Global Entry or TSA PreCheck.
Pros:
- Travel perks like free first checked bag and priority boarding
- Companion certificate included
- High rewards rate for Delta and hotel spending
Cons:
- High annual fee
- Most spending categories only earn 1X miles
- No complimentary lounge access
Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card
- Earn 2 AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent at gas stations and restaurants.
- Earn 2 AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases.
- Earn 2 AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent at gas stations and restaurants.
- Earn 2 AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases.
The CitiBusiness / AAdvantage Platinum Select credit card is perfect for American Airlines travelers, as it offers travel benefits ranging from preferred boarding on flights to no foreign transaction fees.
Pros:
- High signup bonus in addition to regular travel rewards
- No foreign transaction fees
- Other travel perks like first checked bag free of charge and a companion certificate
Cons:
- Bonus miles aren't available for account holders who have received a new account bonus for a CitiBusiness / AAdvantage Platinum Select account in the past 48 months
- It doesn't include some common travel perks like TSA Precheck or lounge access
- Requires an excellent credit score to qualify
CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard®
- Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on United® purchases, dining, at gas stations, office supply stores and on local transit and commuting.
- Earn 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases.
- Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on United® purchases, dining, at gas stations, office supply stores and on local transit and commuting.
- Earn 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases.
The United Business card is perfect for businesses who prefer flying United, as it gives you miles for everyday spending. It also offers other travel benefits such as United Club passes and no foreign transaction fees.
Pros:
- Decent signup bonus
- Extra travel perks like lounge access and free first checked bag
- Add employee cards at no extra cost
Cons:
- Lower miles rewards than many competitors on airline spending
- Starting APR is higher than some competitors
United℠ Business Card
- Earn 4X pts on Southwest® purchases.
- Earn 3X points on Rapid Rewards® hotel and car rental partners.
- Earn 2X points on rideshare.
- Earn 2X points on social media and search engine advertising, internet, cable, and phone services.
- 1X points on all other purchases.
- Earn 4X pts on Southwest® purchases.
- Earn 3X points on Rapid Rewards® hotel and car rental partners.
- Earn 2X points on rideshare.
- Earn 2X points on social media and search engine advertising, internet, cable, and phone services.
- 1X points on all other purchases.
The Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business credit card is one of two business cards available through Southwest. You can earn points on various purchases to help you qualify for the Companion Pass, which allows a companion to fly free with you for one year. Other travel perks include upgraded boarding, inflight Wi-Fi credits, Global Entry or TSA PreCheck and no foreign transaction fees.
Pros:
- Travel perks like TSA PreCheck and upgraded boarding
- 9,000 points each year after your cardmember anniversary
- Ability to qualify for Southwest Companion Pass
Cons:
- High annual fee
- Low rewards on everyday spending
- Not suitable for international travel
Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card
- 6X points on JetBlue purchases
- 2X points at restaurants and office supply stores
- 6X points on JetBlue purchases
- 2X points at restaurants and office supply stores
The JetBlue Business card is offered by Barclays and allows you to earn miles for JetBlue travel. You can earn points on everyday purchases, and other travel benefits for the card include no foreign transaction fees, free checked bags for you and up to three companions, and 50% off inflight food and drinks.
Pros:
- 5,000 bonus points after your account anniversary each year
- Signup bonus is easy to earn
- High rewards for JetBlue purchases
Cons:
- Few travel perks compared to other business airline cards
- Low rewards points on most purchases
- Redeemable for few international locations
JetBlue Business card
- Earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent on travel and select business categories each account anniversary year
- Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases–with no limit to the amount you can earn
- Earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent on travel and select business categories each account anniversary year
- Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases–with no limit to the amount you can earn
The Chase Ink Business Preferred credit card isn't associated with a specific airline, so it's great for businesses that want travel perks with flexibility when it comes to the airline. You can earn points on everyday purchases that are redeemable for cashback or travel rewards through Chase Ultimate Rewards. Other travel perks include no foreign transaction fees, point transfer to Chase travel partners and travel insurance.
Pros:
- Flexibility to use with any travel companies
- Higher welcome bonus than many competitors
- Rewards can be used for cashback in addition to travel
Cons:
- High spending threshold to earn the signup bonus
- Fewer travel-related perks than many business airline cards
- 3X rewards on only the first $150,000 of spending
Chase Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
What is the best airline credit card?
The best airline credit card for Delta travelers is the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card. For American Airlines travelers we recommend the CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard®.
How did we choose these airline credit cards?
There are many business credit cards on the market, many of which offer excellent travel benefits. When crafting this list of the best business airline credit cards, we aimed to find a variety of cards so that no matter which major airline you fly, there's a card for you.
Additionally, we looked for cards that had plenty of travel perks that businesses want without too many downsides. We paid attention to factors like signup bonuses, spending rewards, interest rates, annual fees and travel perks.
Which one is the best airline credit card for your business?
One of the biggest questions to ask yourself when looking for the right airline credit card for your business is: How do you normally travel? If you usually fly with a specific airline and want to maximize the benefits, then choose the card that corresponds to your airline of choice.
If you travel often but want the flexibility to fly with any airline, then the Chase Ink Business Preferred card is probably right for you.
What are the benefits of a business airline credit card?
Airline credit cards allow you to earn miles that you can later redeem for flights. They also come with additional travel perks such as free checked bags, access to airport lounges, priority boarding and TSA PreCheck.
What credit score do you need for an airline credit card?
Airline business credit cards typically require good or excellent credit scores. If your business doesn't have sufficient credit, but you do, then you may be able to guarantee the card with your personal credit.
Are there alternative cards worth considering?
There's no shortage of rewards credit cards that businesses can choose from. Some are specifically designed for travel, while others can be used for anything, including travel. A few other cards to consider include:
- The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
- Capital One Spark Miles for Business
- Bank of America® Business Advantage Travel Rewards World Mastercard® credit
card
Opinions expressed here are author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.