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With the right type of credit card, you could save serious money on your next trip. The tricky part is choosing the right one: a standard travel rewards credit card or an airline credit card.
There are some key differences between the two types of credit cards, as well as personal considerations that may affect your decision. To help you hone in on the right card for you, CNBC Select outlines three questions to ask yourself before applying.
Airline credit cards vs. travel credit cards
What are airline and travel rewards credit cards?
These two types of credit cards are similar in some ways but have a few key differences.
Airline credit cards
An airline card is a co-branded card for a specific airline, and its rewards can only be redeemed with that airline and its partners. For instance, the miles you earn with the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card can only be redeemed for award flights with Delta or airlines it partners with, such as Air France or Aeroméxico.
Though airline credit cards are less flexible in terms of award-redemption opportunities, they offer benefits catered to those who are loyal to a particular airline. These perks include airline lounge access, complimentary checked bags, priority boarding, in-flight food and beverage discounts and benefits designed to help you earn elite status faster.
For example, if you hold the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, you receive 15 Visits per Medallion® Year to the Delta Sky Club® lounges when flying Delta and can unlock an unlimited number of Visits after spending $75,000 in purchases on your card in a calendar year. Plus, you'll receive four one-time guest passes each Medallion Year so you can share the experience with family and friends when traveling Delta together.
Travel credit cards
A travel rewards credit card earns points or miles that can be redeemed for a variety of travel. You can typically use travel rewards to book directly through the bank's travel portal, or you can transfer points to hotel and airline partners.
For example, the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card lets you earn Capital One miles, which can be redeemed through the Capital One travel portal for travel, including flights, rental cars and hotels. You could also transfer your Capital One miles to one of its many airline and hotel partners.
The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is a premium credit card with a myriad of benefits and a lower annual fee than other high-end cards with similar features.
- Annual $300 credit for bookings through Capital One Travel
- 10,000 bonus miles after every card anniversary
- Unlimited complimentary access to 1,300+ airport lounges, including Capital One Lounge and Landing locations
- Long list of valuable travel and shopping protections, including return protection, rental car coverage and trip delay reimbursement (Benefit(s) only available to accounts approved for the Visa Infinite card. Terms apply.)
- Limited bonus spending categories compared to other premium credit cards
- High annual fee
- High credit score requirement (excellent credit)
Highlights
- 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
- Receive a $300 annual credit for bookings through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
- Get 10,000 bonus miles (equal to $100 towards travel) every year, starting on your first anniversary
- Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5X miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel
- Earn unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases
- Enjoy access to 1,300+ lounges worldwide, including Capital One Lounge and Landing locations and participating Priority Pass™ lounges, after enrollment
- Use your Venture X miles to easily cover travel expenses, including flights, hotels, rental cars and more—you can even transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
- Enjoy a $100 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Premier Collection
- Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
- Top rated mobile app
Balance transfer fee
$0 at the Transfer APR, 4% of the amount of each transferred balance that posts to your account at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer to you
Foreign transaction fees
$0
Airline credit card benefits vs. travel credit card benefits
When you're choosing between an airline card and a general travel card, it's important to dig into the specifics of the exact cards you're comparing. Credit card benefits and features vary not just by card type but also from one card to the next.
This is true even within a family of cards. For example, there are seven different co-branded Delta SkyMiles cards issued in the U.S., and while there is some overlap in benefits, each is designed with a different person in mind. The same goes for travel cards; many cards earn American Express Membership Rewards® Points, some have no annual fee and others charge hundreds of dollars a year.
Benefits comparison: Airline credit card vs. travel credit card
| Airline credit cards | Travel credit cards | |
|---|---|---|
| Redeem rewards for flights | Yes | Yes |
| Flexible rewards and redemptions | Limited | Yes |
| Earn airline elite status | Yes | No |
| Travel and purchase protections | Yes | Yes |
| Intro bonus offers | Yes | Yes |
| Airline-specific benefits | Yes | No |
| Airport lounge access | Yes | Yes |
| Travel benefits | Limited | Yes |
Use rewards for flights
Airline cards earn miles or points tied to that airline's frequent flyer program, and travel cards earn rewards that are part of that card issuer's rewards program. You can use both types of rewards to book flights.
You can redeem airline miles for award flights with that airline or airlines it partners with. Sometimes, it's easier to use airline miles, but many airlines have dynamic award prices. This means your rewards can be devalued more easily with price increases.
Credit card travel rewards programs typically allow you to use points to pay for flights or transfer points to airline loyalty programs. If you have transferable rewards, you can move points to whichever airline program offers the best deal for the specific flight you want to book. The option to transfer points to multiple airlines protects you when one airline raises its award prices.
Flexible rewards and redemptions
You can use airline miles for more than just flights; you can book vacation packages, hotels, rental cars and even activities. You may even be able to use your miles to pay for lounge passes or checked baggage fees.
Some airlines allow you to transfer airline miles to hotel programs, but it's rarely a good deal. The transfer ratios for these conversions tend to be poor, and hotel points are usually much less valuable than airline miles. Redeeming miles for flights usually yields the most value, so other redemption options aren't ideal.
The most valuable travel rewards programs, such as Chase Ultimate Rewards®, Bilt Rewards or Citi ThankYou® Rewards, offer a wider range of ways to use your points and miles. You can usually convert points to cash back (typically at 1 cent per mile/point or less). With cash in hand, you can book any travel or pay for any expense. You'll also have the opportunity to increase the value you receive from these rewards by taking advantage of transfer partners (if they're available). The best transfer partners enable booking business-class flights or luxury hotels that would otherwise cost hundreds or thousands of dollars.
Earn airline elite status
You can earn airline elite status without flying with many co-branded airline credit cards (but not all). How useful this benefit is depends on the airline and the specific card. Some airline cards offer status just for having the card, but generally, earning airline status with a co-branded card requires a hefty amount of spending.
Travel cards may offer credits that can cover airline fees or may earn rewards you could use to pay for a seat upgrade, but they won't help you qualify for airline status.
Travel and purchase protections
Airline and travel cards both may offer insurance protections, such as trip delay coverage, trip cancellation and interruption insurance or purchase protection. The best travel insurance benefits are attached to premium airline or travel cards, which have the highest annual fees. While both types of credit cards may offer these perks, you're more likely to find meaningful protections with a general travel card.
Intro bonus offers
The vast majority of airline and travel cards offer an intro bonus, and many of the best sign-up bonuses on the market are attached to these types of cards. When comparing these offers, consider not just the number of points or miles, but also the value of those rewards. Flexible travel rewards are generally regarded as more valuable than airline miles.
Airline specific-benefits
If you want priority boarding, free checked bags, in-flight discounts and companion pass offers, you'll want an airline card. Getting free checked bags or annual companion passes can easily make an airline card worth paying for. Keep in mind, the best airline perks typically aren't available with no-annual-fee airline cards.
Travel cards don't normally offer benefits tied to a specific airline. However, if a card offers travel credits, you may be able to use those credits to offset airfare or airline fees (checked bags, lounge passes, etc.).
Airport lounge access
You can get access to airport lounges with airline cards and travel cards. However, the benefit is usually only available with premium credit cards that have higher annual fees. If this is an important perk for you, be sure to consider what lounges you might frequent the most because travel cards often grant access to Priority Pass™ lounges, while airline cards can get you into that airline's lounge network.
Some cards offer access to both, such as the American Express Platinum Card®. With it, you can visit Delta Sky Club lounges, Priority Pass™ Select lounges (enrollment required) and many more.
Travel benefits
When it comes to travel benefits, travel cards outshine the majority of airline cards. The best travel cards offer statements that apply to hotels, rental cars, airfare and more. Some even offer elite status perks with hotel chains and rental car agencies. Travel cards also tend to be more rewarding for all sorts of travel purchases.
Some airline cards provide benefits that apply when you're not flying with that airline, but it's much less common. The perks also tend to be harder to earn or come with restrictions.
3 questions to ask when choosing between an airline or travel credit card
Both types of credit cards offer great opportunities to save money on travel, and neither is inherently better than the other. Everyone has different needs, travel habits and preferences, so it's best to analyze your travel style and find the card that works best for you.
For starters, ask yourself the following three questions:
1. How do you typically travel?
If you tend to fly more than three times per year, an airline credit card may be a solid fit, especially if you live in a city that serves as a hub for a particular airline. For example, Atlanta is a hub for Delta, so a co-branded credit card such as the Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card could make sense if you live near Atlanta.
If your travel style varies — a mix of cruises, road trips, train rides, etc. — a travel rewards credit card may better suit you since you'll be able to accrue and redeem points for more than just airfare on one airline.
The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card's array of premium benefits make it a perfect fit for the most loyal Delta flyers, including elite status boosts, rideshare credits (enrollment required) and airport lounge access.
- Access to airport lounges, including Amex Centurion lounges
- Up to $560 in annual statement credits (Enrollment may be required)
- 15% discount for eligible Delta award flights (Not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.)
- High annual fee
- No bonus spending categories outside of Delta purchases
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $5,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you're approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you're approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members receive 15 Visits per Medallion® Year to the Delta Sky Club® when flying Delta and can unlock an unlimited number of Visits after spending $75,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Plus, you'll receive four One-Time Guest Passes each Medallion Year so you can share the experience with family and friends when traveling Delta together.
- Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. and select international locations (as set forth on the Centurion Lounge Website), Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. (see the Centurion Lounge Website for more information on Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge availability), and Escape Lounges when flying on a Delta flight booked with the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card. § To access Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 90 minutes of their departing flight (including layovers). To access The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 3 hours of their departing flight. Effective July 8, 2026, during a layover, Card Members must arrive within 5 hours of the connecting flight.
- Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars with MQD Headstart each Medallion Qualification Year and earn $1 MQD for each $10 in purchases on your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card with MQD Boost to get closer to Status next Medallion Year.
- Enjoy a Companion Certificate on a Delta First, Delta Comfort, or Delta Main domestic, Caribbean, or Central American round-trip flight each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Certificate requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. Delta Basic experiences are not eligible for this benefit.
- $240 Resy Credit: When you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card for eligible purchases at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants, you can earn up to $20 each month in statement credits. Enrollment required.
- $120 Rideshare Credit: Earn up to $10 back in statement credits each month after you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card to pay for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enrollment required.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- With your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, receive upgrade priority over others with the same Medallion tier, product and fare experience purchased, and Million Miler milestone when you fly with Delta.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
- $650 Annual Fee.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees
2. Where do you want to go?
Once you have a destination in mind, it's easier to know which credit card to get.
If you'd like to travel around Europe, you'll probably fly with more than one airline, use other modes of transport and stay at different hotels. In that scenario, earning transferable points such as Amex Membership Rewards® Points or Chase Ultimate Rewards® points makes more sense than earning airline miles, as they offer greater flexibility.
Some of the best cards for earning these points are the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see rates and fees) and the American Express® Gold Card.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card packs a punch for a $95 annual fee card, offering annual travel credits, comprehensive travel protections and more.
- You can transfer rewards to all of Chase's travel partners including World of Hyatt, Southwest Rapid Rewards and many more
- Long list of travel and shopping protections
- $50 annual Chase Travel hotel credit
- Has an annual fee
- Requires a high credit score
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase TravelSM, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases
- Earn up to $50 in statement credits each account anniversary year for hotel stays through Chase TravelSM
- 10% anniversary points boost - each account anniversary you'll earn bonus points equal to 10% of your total purchases made the previous year.
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
- Complimentary DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees & lower service fees for a min. of one year when you activate by 12/31/27. Plus, a $10 promo each month on non-restaurant orders.
- Member FDIC
Balance transfer fee
Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
The American Express Gold Card is great for earning valuable Membership Rewards® points at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets.
- You can earn $400+ in dining and rideshare credits every year (Enrollment required for select benefits mentioned)
- Exceptionally rewarding for eligible restaurant and U.S. supermarket purchases
- No foreign transaction fees
- Larger annual fee
- Credits are more complicated, you earn them monthly or semi-annually
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you're approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you're approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- Pay It® lets you tap in the American Express® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You'll know upfront exactly how much you'll pay.
- Updated! $120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express® Gold Card. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment required.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
- New! As an American Express® Gold Card Member, you can enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status. Enjoy benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
- Take advantage of a $100 credit towards eligible charges* at over 1,300 upscale hotels worldwide when you book The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App **. *Eligible charges vary by property. **The Hotel Collection requires a two-night minimum stay.
- Book your travel through the Amex Travel App with added peace of mind – backed by American Express® service and support. Only for American Express® Card Members.
- Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees
Foreign transaction fee
None
On the other hand, if United Airlines flies everywhere you want to go and you're staying with friends, the United℠ Explorer Credit Card (see rates and fees) is a great choice. It earns United miles, comes with two United Club lounge passes per year and can get you free checked bags.
The United℠ Explorer Card is worth it even if you only fly with United Airlines once or twice a year because you can take advantage of two United Club℠ passes per year when the primary cardmember or authorized user is traveling and you can receive free checked bags.
- No annual fee for the first year
- Unlocks upgrades for elite members on award flights
- Two free United Club airport lounge passes every year
- Valuable United Airlines perks, such as in-flight purchase discounts and the ability to earn elite status credit through credit card spending
- First checked bag free benefit requires you to pay for the flight with the card
- United Airlines has a dynamic award chart which can limit the value and flexibility of your miles
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- Earn up to 60,000 bonus miles
- $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150
- NEW! 9x total miles on eligible United flights and 3x miles on all other eligible United® purchases
- 2x miles on dining and hotel stays when booked with the hotel. 1x mile on all other purchases.
- Free first checked bag - a savings of up to $200 per roundtrip. Terms Apply. Plus, priority boarding on United® flights.
- 2 United Club one-time passes per year - over a $100 value
- Over $500 in partner credits each year
- NEW! Save 10% or more when booking flights with miles. Premier members save even more.
- Member FDIC
3. What is your budget for an annual fee?
Many airline and travel rewards cards carry an annual fee. Some cards offer solid benefits for a fee that's under $100. But cards that allow you to earn more points and miles and come with a wide variety of benefits can have a much higher annual fee.
While paying an annual fee isn't necessarily a bad thing, it's important to remember to stay within your budget and not pay for a new card when you won't be able to maximize all its benefits.
Compare airline credit cards and travel credit cards
Airline credit card and travel credit card comparison
| Airline credit card | Travel credit card | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for American Airlines | Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® | Citi Strata Premier® Card |
| Best for United Airlines | United℠ Explorer Card | Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card |
| Best for Delta | Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card | American Express® Gold Card |
| Best for Southwest | Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card | Chase Sapphire Reserve® |
| Best for JetBlue | JetBlue Plus Card | Citi Strata Elite℠ Card |
| Best for Atmos Rewards | Atmos™ Rewards Ascent Visa Signature® | Bilt Palladium Card |
For rates and fees of the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®, click here.
For rates and fees of the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Citi Strata Premier® Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, click here.
For rates and fees of the Citi Strata Elite℠ Card, click here.
Airline card vs. travel card pros and cons
- Earn miles with your favorite airline
- Fast-track your way to elite status
- Unlock valuable benefits with a specific airline, such as priority boarding, free checked bags or airline lounge access
- Locked into a single loyalty program
- Limited options for using rewards for other types of travel
- Fewer general travel perks, like travel insurance
- Flexibility to use rewards for hotels, rental cars, flights and more
- Exceptional travel protections
- Versatile airport lounge access benefits
- Few, if any, airline-specific perks
- Certain redemptions are more complicated
- May not be able to transfer rewards directly to your favorite airline
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At CNBC Select, our mission is to provide our readers with high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice so they can make informed decisions with their money. Every credit card article is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors. While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content without input from our commercial team or any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on our journalistic standards and ethics.
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For rates and fees of the American Express® Gold Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the American Express Platinum Card®, click here.
