5 Best Airline Credit Card with No Annual Fee
Are you a frequent traveler or only travel a few times a year? If so, why not sign up for an airline credit card to build up mile points on your next vacation or business flight?
Most banks partnered with the airline will have an annual fee travel credit card to cover travel benefits. However, this won’t benefit those who don’t frequently travel.
Instead, we are looking at the 5 best no annual fee airline credit cards. They can redeem rewards, receive statement credits on purchases, and bonus categories all go to your travels.
Table of Contents
Best Airline Credit Card No Annual Fee
1.) Delta SkyMiles Blue American Express Card
Delta Airlines offers bonus points for earning 10,000 miles and access to their Skymiles Marketplace.
With unlimited earning potential, every dollar spent earns you SkyMile points that can be used to book flights, upgrades, and more. Double the points on Delta travel or dining purchases.
A good choice as Delta Airlines is known for its professional customer service in the airline industry and strong domestic network presence in the United States.
Benefits:
- 10,000 miles bonus offer after spending $500 on purchases in the first 3 months after account opening
- Mile points for every $1 spent:
- 2x miles on Delta purchases
- 2x miles on Restaurants Dining Purchases, including eligible delivery service
- 1x miles other eligible purchases
- 20% Discount on Delta in-flight travel purchases
- Access to Skymiles Marketplaces
- No foreign transaction fees
- No annual fees
2.) United Gateway Card
United Airlines offers the highest sign up bonus of 20,000 miles than the other airline credit cards on this list.
Double the mile points for gas stations and transit spending, including United Airlines purchases.
Plus, with no foreign transaction fees, you can use your card on your next international adventure without worrying about additional charges.
United Airlines is best suited for both domestic and international travelers.
Benefits:
- 20,000 miles bonus offer after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months after account opening
- Mile points for every $1 spent:
- 2x miles on United purchases
- 2x miles at gas stations
- 2x miles on local transit and commute.
- Rideshare, taxi, train, tolls, public transport
- 1x miles on other purchases
- Additional mile points from MileagePlus partners from hotel stays, rental cars, online shopping with eligible purchases charged directly to card
- One Year complimentary DoorDash Dash Pass – Unlimited $0 delivery fees and lower services fees on eligible delivery service (Activate before 12/31/24)
- 25% Discount on United Airlines in-flight travel purchases of food and beverages
- No foreign transaction fees
- No annual fees
3.) American Airlines AAdvantage Mile Up Card
American Airlines sign up bonus offer of 10,000 miles and a $50 statement credit. They are known as the largest airline in the world.
More flights are available for domestic and international travel, allowing you more locations to travel to.
If you’re a frequent flyer with American Airlines, then you don’t want to miss out on their AAdvantage Mile Up program on eligible American Airlines purchases.
Benefits:
- 10,000 miles welcome bonus + 50 credit statement offer after spending $500 on purchases in the first 3 months after account opening
- Mile points for every $1 spent:
- 2x miles on eligible American Airlines purchases
- 2x miles on purchases at grocery stores, including grocery delivery services
- 1x miles other purchases
- 25% Discount on American Airline in-flight travel purchases
- No annual fees
4.) JetBlue Card
JetBlue provides the best amenities at a low cost when flying with them. You can earn points for every dollar you spend on JetBlue flights and certain purchases at restaurants and grocery stores.
Points can redeem for free flights, vacation packages, and other rewards. In addition, 50% discount on JetBlue food and beverages using their credit card.
This credit card is recommended for those who want a more enjoyable flight with more leg space, free Wi-Fi, and more affordable premium classes.
Benefits:
- 10,000 miles bonus offer after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months after account opening
- Mile points for every $1 spent:
- 3x points on JetBlue Purchases
- 2x points purchases at restaurants and eligible grocery stores
- 1x points other purchases
- 50% Discount on JetBlue in-flight travel purchases
- No foreign transaction fees
- No annual fee
5.) Free Spirit Airlines Travel Card
Spirit Airlines offers the lowest airfare than other airlines on this list and more availability to multiple travel locations.
A notable offer from Spirit Airlines is when you use their credit card you have a higher priority boarding call.
Suitable for frequent travelers who only bring personal items and do not want baggage fees.
Benefits:
- 10,000 miles bonus offer after spending $500 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
- Mile points for every $1 spent:
- 2x points on Spirit Airline purchases
- 1x points on everyday purchases
- 5,000 bonus points each anniversary after making at least $10,000 purchases within a year
- 25% rebate on Spirit Airlines in-flight travel purchases
- Automatic Zone 2 Shortcut Boarding on all flights (2nd in line boarding call after
- pre-boarding and Zone 1)
- No foreign transaction fees
- No annual fees
What are Airline Credit Cards?
Similar to regular credit cards, but focuses on earning airline miles and other benefits with a specific airline.
Best suited for those who travel on occasion without wanting to pay an annual fee. If you have a favorite airline, you can sign up for their credit card and earn benefits for your travels.
Benefits of Airline Credit Card with No Annual Fee:
Mileage points
Accumulate mileage on your next flight from making purchases with your credit card.
Sign Up Bonus
Airlines offer bonus miles after minimum spending within a certain period after opening your airline credit card. Usually, you can earn 10,000 or more miles as a bonus offer.
No Foreign Transaction Fee
You will not incur additional fees for using your credit card in a foreign country.
Some airline credit cards may not offer it as a benefit and may say, “Foreign transaction fees earn no rewards.” Meaning you will not receive points for paying foreign transaction fees.
Review if your credit card includes no foreign transaction fee before considering applying for it.
FAQ
What airline has their own credit card?
Many airlines have their own line of credit cards. Below are airlines that offer annual fee credit cards and or no annual fee cards within the United States:
- American Airlines
- United Airlines
- Delta Airlines
- Alaska Airlines
- Southwest Airlines
- JetBlue Airlines
- Spirit Airlines
- Frontier Airlines
Is it better to get a card with no annual fee?
Deciding whether to get no annual fee travel credit cards all comes down to your lifestyle and financial situation.
Frequent travelers will benefit from paying an annual fee. It will give you better travel rewards to make your travels more enjoyable and higher bonus points to earn cash rewards.
Don’t pay an annual fee credit card for the perks if you aren’t using them. You can get other cards with no annual fees to redeem points for travel.
Is there a SkyMiles card with no annual fee?
Yes, the Delta SkyMiles Blue American Express travel rewards credit card is a no annual fee card.
Closing Thoughts
With this list of the 5 Best Airline Credit Cards with no annual fee, it can be hard to choose the right card.
All these cards offer different great options to suit every individual’s level of spending, travel rewards, and travel goals.
From earning miles on everyday purchases to bolstering rewards points when you fly, these cards allow you to make the most out of your next vacation or business trip.
Remember – take into account your financial needs and find the one that matches what you are looking for so that you don’t end up paying too much!
Sign up for any of these no annual fee airline travel reward credit cards and start maximizing your miles without having to worry about those pesky yearly fees.
*As a disclaimer, all information in this article is not financial advice
Below is a summary of the Best no annual fee:
- Delta SkyMiles Blue American Express (AMEX) Card: Best for Domestic Travels
- United Gateway Card: Best for International Travels (Tie)
- American Airlines AAdvantage Mile Up Card: Best for International Travels (Tie)
- JetBlue Card: Best for Saving on In-flight Purchases
- Free Spirit Airlines Travel Card: Best for Quicker Boarding
