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Erika's Picks for Best Airline Credit Card Sign-Up Bonuses
- Best for premium perks:
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card - Best for low fee with big benefits:
United℠ Explorer Card - Best for airline partners:
Aeroplan® Credit Card - Best for low spending requirement:
Hawaiian Airlines® World Elite Mastercard® - Best for families:
Atmos™ Rewards Summit Visa Infinite® Card
If you snag a high sign-up bonus with an airline credit card, it can be worth hundreds of dollars in free travel. And the sign-up bonuses for some airlines are enough to earn multiple free tickets — plus perks like free checked bags and elite status.
We’ve rounded up the best current airline sign-up bonus offers to help you make the most of your upcoming travel!
Best for Premium Perks
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express
Rewards Rate
- 3x miles on Delta purchases
- 1x on all other eligible purchases
Welcome Offer
Earn 70,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $5,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
Annual Fee
$650 (rates and fees)
The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card is a premium airline card with a welcome offer of 70,000 Delta SkyMiles after spending $5,000 on the card within six months of opening.
Here are some other perks of the card:
- 15% discount when booking award flights on Delta.com or through the FlyDelta app
- $240 annual Resy credit (up $20 in statement credits per month; enrollment required)
- $200 annual statement credit when booking prepaid hotels or vacation rentals through delta.com
- Companion certificate each year after renewal of your card, good for Main Cabin, Delta Comfort+®, or First Class within the U.S. and to Mexico, the Caribbean, or Central America (applicable fees and taxes are extra)
- Added to the Complimentary Upgrade list for Delta flights
- First checked bag free on Delta flights
- Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars (MQD) and $1 MQD for every $10 spent
- 15 visits to Delta Sky Club® per year — or unlimited visits if you spend at least $75,000 per year on the card
- Access to the American Express Centurion® Lounge when booking a qualifying Delta flight with your card
- Statement credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® fee*
- Insurance coverage for trip delays, trip cancellation/interruption, and lost/damaged baggage**
* Receive either up to a $120 statement credit for Global Entry or a credit of up to $85 for TSA PreCheck after you apply through any Authorized Enrollment Provider. Only one credit will be given in a 4 year period for Global Entry or in a 4.5 year period for TSA PreCheck, depending on whichever application fee is charged to your eligible American Express® Card first.
** Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.
The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card is an excellent card if you like to fly Delta with a lot of luxury. It currently has the highest welcome offer of all the Delta credit cards, and while it also comes with the highest annual fee, you get a lot of value from it.
In addition to the welcome offer, you get Delta elite status, a free checked bag on every Delta flight, Sky Club lounge access, and one of the best companion passes around (which includes First Class!). You also you get access to the very exclusive Amex Centurion® Lounge.
Plus, your miles stretch further when booking rewards flights directly through Delta.com.
If you’re a fan of Delta and want instant elite status and other premium perks, the SkyMiles Reserve is a fantastic option. Just make sure you’ll use everything it offers to justify the high annual fee.
Best for Low Fee With Big Benefits
United℠ Explorer Card
Rewards Rate
- 2x miles on United® purchases, dining and hotel stays
- 1x mile on everything else
Welcome Offer
Earn 60,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.
Annual Fee
$0 Intro Annual fee for the first year, then $150
The United℠ Explorer Card is currently offering 60,000 United miles after spending $3,000 in purchases on the card within three months of account opening. Depending on how you redeem them, that could easily be enough for several domestic flights or a round-trip flight to some overseas destinations.
Some perks of the card include:
- Earn extra rewards when spending on United flights, bookings through United Hotels, and other travel and dining purchases
- Get a 10,000 rewards booking discount after spending $20,000 on the card each year
- First checked bag free for you and a companion on United flights
- Priority boarding for you and companions on the same reservation
- Two United Club one-time passes per year
- Additional $500+ in travel credits, including:
- Reimbursement for TSA Precheck®, NEXUS, or Global Entry
- $100 annually on prepaid hotel stays purchased directly through United® Hotels
- $60 each year on rideshares
- Up to $50 annually when you book Avis or Budget car rentals directly through cars.united.com
- Up to $100 annually on flights purchased directly through JSX
- 25% back on food, beverages, and wifi on United-operated flights
- Insurance coverage for trip delay, trip cancellation/interruption, and lost/delayed baggage
United recently re-launched the United℠ Explorer Card with over $500 in various travel credits, free checked bags (for two), and a shortcut to earning elite status with United.
While United has several co-branded credit cards, including a few that are more premium, the Explorer strikes a great balance between having an affordable annual fee (that’s waived in your first year) and a ton of benefits.
If you fly United domestically and want a huge bonus worth several round-trip flights, this card is a great option.
Best for Airline Partners
Aeroplan® Credit Card
Rewards Rate
- 3x points for each dollar spent at grocery stores, on dining at restaurants, and Air Canada directly
- 1x on all other purchases
Welcome Offer
Earn up to 100,000 bonus points: Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open. Plus, 25,000 bonus points after you spend $20,000 on purchases in the first 12 months.
Annual Fee
$95
Chase's Aeroplan® Credit Card is currently offering a whopping offer of up to 100,000 bonus points! The bonus is broken up into two milestones: You'll earn 75,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months and 25,000 bonus points after spending $20,000 in the first 12 months.
While Aeroplan miles are best for Air Canada travelers, you can use rewards to book flights on other airlines through Star Alliance, which includes United, Lufthansa, Turkish Airlines, Singapore Airlines, and others.
Perks of the card include:
- Get immediate Aeroplan 25K Status for the rest of the year and the following calendar year
- First checked bag free on Air Canada flights
- Flight redemptions start at 6,000 Aeroplan miles
- Fee credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® or NEXUS
- Insurance coverage for trip cancellation/interruption, trip delay, and lost/damaged baggage
While Aeroplan is the loyalty program for Air Canada, there are plenty of great flight options available for U.S. domestic and international flights through Air Canada’s Star Alliance partners. So, if you don’t want to be tied to one specific airline while still earning airline miles, the Aeroplan® Credit Card is a compelling card to consider.
Plus, the large welcome bonus, immediate 25k status with Air Canada, and free checked bag are great perks if you regularly fly to Canada or on Canadian connections.
Best for Low Spending Requirement
Hawaiian Airlines® World Elite Mastercard®
Rewards Rate
- 3x miles on eligible Hawaiian Airlines purchases
- 2x miles on gas, dining and eligible grocery store purchases
- 1x miles on all other purchases
Welcome Offer
Earn up to 80,000 bonus miles: 50,000 miles after spending $2,000 in the first 90 days, plus 30,000 miles after spending a total of $5,000 within the first 180 days.
Annual Fee
$99
Who doesn’t dream of a tropical vacation in Hawaii? And the Hawaiian Airlines® World Elite Mastercard® can make your dream a reality with up to 80,000 bonus miles after spending $5,000 within the first 180 days (50,000 miles after spending $2,000 in the first 90 days, plus 30,000 miles after spending a total of $5,000 within the first 180 days). So, even if you don't hit the full $5,000 spend, you can still earn a decent amount of miles from spending just $2,000.
This card doesn’t offer the most perks, but if you’re planning a Hawaiian vacation, the large welcome bonus and Hawaiian Airlines benefits make it worth a look.
Here are some of the perks it does offer:
- 50% off a companion fare for round-trip coach travel between Hawaii and North America
- $100 companion pass discount each card anniversary
- Two free checked bags
- Hawaiian miles don’t expire as long as you hold the card
- Flights as low as 35,000 miles from U.S. west coast and 7,500 miles between Hawaiian islands
Hawaii is one of the most popular vacation destinations in the world — and the Hawaiian Airlines® World Elite Mastercard® is the perfect complement to anyone looking to plan a trip to the islands.
The card comes with a big welcome bonus that can potentially net you two round-trip tickets from the West Coast of the U.S. to Hawaii (if you can find discounted award availability), without a very high spending requirement.
Best for Families
Atmos™ Rewards Summit Visa Infinite® Credit Card
Rewards Rate
- 3x points on eligible Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines purchases
- 3x points on eligible dining and foreign purchases
- 1x point on all other purchases
Welcome Offer
Earn 100,000 bonus points and a 25,000-point Global Companion Award after spending $6,000 within the first 90 days.
Annual Fee
$395
The new premium card for Alaska Airlines, the Atmos™ Rewards Summit Visa Infinite® Card, offers a fantastic welcome offer for anyone who regularly travels with friends or family.
In addition to earning 100,000 bonus points, you'll also get a 25,000-point Global Companion Award after spending $6,000 within the first 90 days. This companion pass isn't a one-time deal, either — you'll then get it annually on your card anniversary.
Plus, you'll also get a 100,000-point companion award after spending $60,000 or more in a year. These companion passes are good for international flights (unlike the $99 companion award offered with the Summit's sister card, the Atmos™ Rewards Ascent Visa Signature® Card, which is only good for flights within North America.
The annual pass can help you save a lot of money if you travel with a partner, child, or friend. Plus, you'll also get these perks that can really help a large group to save:
- 8 Alaska Lounge passes — good for you and up to two accompanying children
- Priority boarding and free checked bags for you and up to 6 travel companions on the same reservation
- Waived fee for partner award bookings, up to $25 per person on every roundtrip flight
- Waived fee for same-day changes (excluding Saver fare) — and as we know, plans can be unpredictable with kids
- 20% back on all Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines inflight purchases
The Atmos™ Rewards Summit Visa Infinite® Card has a fairly significant annual fee, but it's not as high as many other cards that offer comparable perks (companion fares, lounge accesss, and fee reimbursement for TSA PreCheck®/Global Entry).
For traveling families, airfare is typically the most expensive part of any vacation. But with a companion fare, waived fees on partner award bookings, and free checked bags for up to six people in your party, you can significantly cut down on those costs.
Plus, Atmos boasts a long list of transfer partners, so not only can you book directly with Alaska Airlines, but you can also use Atmos points with American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Qantas, and others.
How Airline Credit Card Sign-Up Bonuses Work
When you sign up for an airline co-branded credit card, you may be able to earn a welcome bonus. This bonus is usually a large amount of airline miles, which you earn by spending a specific amount of money within the first few months of opening the card.
For example, maybe a card offers a 70,000-mile sign-up bonus after spending $1,000 within 90 days of opening the card. Once you hit this minimum spending requirement, the bonus miles would be deposited into your airline loyalty account.
The difference between airline miles and flexible travel points
While airline cards earn miles for specific airline loyalty rewards programs, flexible travel points can be used in multiple different ways — including cashback, gift cards, travel redemptions, or transferred to other airline or hotel loyalty programs.
For example, the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card only earns Delta SkyMiles®. Meanwhile, the American Express Platinum Card® earns Membership Rewards® that can be used for cashback, online purchases, or transferred to other airline and hotel partners (including Delta).
If you’re partial to one airline, it makes sense to find an airline co-branded credit card that offers a large sign-up bonus, spending bonuses, and additional perks for that specific airline.
But if you want more options for your travel rewards, a flexible travel points card can make more sense.
COMPARE: Best Airline Credit Cards
Tips for Earning a Sign-Up Bonus
Before you jump on a card with a great offer, make sure you know what you’re getting into — sign-up bonuses aren’t really “free” money.
Here’s how to make sure you earn your bonus the right way:
- Plan large purchases to meet minimum spending requirements. Plan larger purchases around when you sign up for the card. Also, pay for things like bills and groceries with the card to get the bonus quicker.
- Note the spending requirement deadline. All welcome bonuses have a deadline — if you don’t spend enough by then, you’ll miss out on the bonus. Mark the deadline on the calendar and track your progress each week by adding up how much you’ve spent.
- Pay off your statement every month. While large bonuses are nice, paying the minimum on your card and losing money to interest will negate the benefits.
- Avoid unnecessary spending just to earn the bonus. While a sign-up bonus can be a great way to get free flights, it’s not worth spending money on stuff you don’t need just to get a bonus. Make sure you can meet the spending requirements with things you’re planning to purchase anyway.
RELATED: Beginner’s Guide to Earning Miles & Travel Points
Maximizing the Value of Airline Sign-Up Bonuses
Getting the most from your points doesn’t mean booking the first flight you see. There are a few strategies you can use to get more out of your miles and maximize the value of each point you earn.
When to redeem miles for flights vs. upgrades
In most cases, the best value is to redeem your airline miles for flights. Search award availability to find the lowest-cost flights to make your miles stretch further.
But for long-haul international flights, it can make sense to pay a cash fare for the main cabin and upgrade with points for a lie-flat seat in business or first class.
You’ll need to research which airlines offer miles upgrades, and ask yourself if the miles (and fees) are worth the cost of upgrading versus saving those points for a future flight redemption.
RELATED: How To Keep Track of Credit Card Rewards
Avoiding blackout dates and hidden fees
While using airline miles for free flights is the dream, the devil is in the details.
Some airlines have travel award blackout dates, which prevent you from redeeming points during a specific period. This is usually during peak travel seasons (think: spring break, summer vacation, holidays).
It’s also important to understand additional fees you might pay for booking flights. Domestic award flights usually have small fees (under $20), but international redemptions can charge hundreds of dollars for fuel taxes and other surcharges.
Make sure to review the fees and charges on any flight you choose before booking.
RELATED: How To Avoid Hidden Fees When Traveling
Watch out for poor-value redemptions
Choosing cashback or gift cards as a way to redeem your miles is usually a very bad deal. Most cash-equivalent redemptions or “shop with points” options give you less than half the value of redeeming miles for flights.
While sometimes you can’t avoid poor redemptions if you need to use the miles, try to avoid these low-value transactions if possible.
READ MORE: The Smart Traveler’s Guide to Credit Card Rewards & Protections
Bottom Line: Should You Apply for an Airline Sign-Up Bonus?
Earning airline credit card sign-up bonuses can lead to free travel, but you want to make sure you find the right bonus for your travel habits.
Only choose a co-branded credit card if it’s with an airline or alliance that you regularly fly with. If you’re not loyal to any particular airline, you may want to go for a general travel rewards credit card instead, that lets you transfer your points to a variety of partners.
Once you choose a credit card, make sure you can meet the spending requirement wisely — it’s never worth going into credit card debt for a bonus.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get multiple sign-up bonuses from different cards?
Yes, you can apply for multiple credit cards, but whether you qualify for the sign-up bonuses for each depends on the card issuer.
Each issuer has their own rules around the number of cards you can open, how frequently you can sign up for cards, and whether or not you qualify for multiple bonuses.
Make sure to review the terms and conditions for each card you want to sign up for before applying.
What happens if I return an item that helped me meet the spending requirement?
In most cases, if you return an item that helped you meet the minimum spend for a credit card welcome bonus — and it brings you below the minimum requirement — the card issuer can claw back your bonus rewards. If you’ve used the points, this could result in a negative points balance.
Do airline miles expire if I don’t use them right away?
Some airlines have expiration dates on the airline miles you earn. You can usually extend this expiration date by spending on a co-branded credit card and earning a few more points, or making a points redemption.
Is there a limit to how many airline credit cards I can have?
While there is no legal limit to how many airline cards you can have, some card issuers restrict whether you can earn a new sign-up bonus when applying for another airline card.
It’s important to review the terms and conditions of the card issuer before applying for a second, third, or fourth airline card.
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Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are the 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.
