Going has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. Going and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers. Opinions, reviews, analyses, and recommendations are the author's alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed, or approved by any of these entities. Some of all of the card offers that appear on this page are from advertisers; compensation may affect how and where the cards appear on the site; and Going does not include all card companies are all available card offers.
Airline co-branded credit cards can help frequent flyers who often fly with a specific airline or assist those interested in establishing loyalty with a particular airline. Airlines offer a variety of credit cards that range in benefits and vary from a cost of no annual fee to hundreds of dollars.
The perks of airline co-branded credit cards can include:
- Free checked bags
- Priority boarding
- Lounge access
- Companion passes
- Assistance in earning elite status
- TSA Precheck/Global Entry credit
However, there are some downsides, too. The benefits of an airline co-branded credit are limited to that airline, so if you’re not a regular with one airline, it may not be the best option for you.
Here, we’ll cover the best airline co-branded credit cards and how they can elevate your travel experience.
card_name
Annual fee: annual_fees
Foreign transaction fee: foreign_transaction_fee
Earning rate:
- 2x miles on United(R) purchases, dining, and hotel stays when booked with the hotel
Welcome offer: bonus_miles_full
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Comes with great perks for an entry-level card: Two United Club one-time lounge passes per year, priority boarding
- Helps decrease flying costs with a free checked bag.
- Earn miles through everyday purchases.
Cons:
- This card can only earn up to 1000 PQPs, so it does not necessarily help you achieve elite status with United Airlines. You would need 5000 PQPs just to reach Premium Silver, the lowest-level elite status.
Our take
This card is an excellent option for those looking to open a United card without a big investment upfront.
card_name
Annual fee: annual_fees
Earning rate:
- Earn 4 points per $1 spent on Southwest Airlines(R) purchases, including flights, inflight, and Southwest gift cards.
- Earn 2 points for every $1 you spend at gas stations and restaurants
Welcome offer: bonus_miles_full
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Receive 7,500 bonus points every year on the cardholder's anniversary.
- Receive 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points boost each year. Qualify for a companion pass by flying 100 one-way flights or earn 135,000 qualifying points.
Cons:
- No lounge access with this card
Our take
You don't need to hold a Southwest card to get a free checked bag on a Southwest flight: Southwest allows all ticket holders two free checked bags on each flight. The biggest value of this card is its help toward earning the coveted Southwest Companion Pass.
card_name
Annual fee: annual_fees(See Rates and Fees)
Earning rate:
- When you use your Delta SkyMiles(R) Gold American Express Card, you can earn: 2X miles on Delta Purchases, 2X miles at restaurants, 2X miles at U.S. supermarkets, 1X miles on all other eligible purchases.
- Every mile you earn brings you closer to the places you want to go. Turn them into your next trip, use them for seat upgrades, and more.
Welcome offer: bonus_miles_full
Pros and cons
Pros:
- The card earns 2 miles per dollar in several categories of everyday spending, such as dining at restaurants or purchasing groceries at US supermarkets.
Cons:
- Other cards offer higher earning rates on similar spending categories.
Our take
This is a great option for travelers who fly with Delta frequently but don’t want to pay a hefty annual fee.
Other airline credit cards we like
These cards are not available through Going and its partners, but we still think they are great airline cards:
- Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®
- Atmos™ Rewards Ascent Visa Signature® credit card
How we chose our picks
When evaluating airline cards, we focused first on the travel perks that make flying smoother: free checked bags, priority boarding, trusted traveler programs, and the ability to earn and redeem miles directly with an airline. We also considered how easily the card helps you earn elite status, the strength of its welcome offer, and whether it comes with valuable extras like lounge access or companion certificates. Finally, we weighed the annual fee against the card’s ongoing value because the right airline card should more than pay for itself if you fly regularly with that carrier.
Going has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. Going and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers. Opinions, reviews, analyses, and recommendations are the author's alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed, or approved by any of these entities. Some of all of the card offers that appear on this page are from advertisers; compensation may affect how and where the cards appear on the site; and Going does not include all card companies are all available card offers.
See Rates and Fees for the card_name
Last updated September 2, 2025
