By Joseph Hellman-Benjamin, Founder and CEO of The Points King. Last updated: October 10, 2026. Editorial Policy
The top airline credit cards of 2026 depend on which airline you fly, because an airline card pays you back mostly in free checked bags and award discounts on that one airline. Only a few airlines, Delta and JetBlue among the US ones, let you pay bag fees with miles instead; I cover which airlines take miles for bags separately. My six picks are the United Quest ($350 a year), the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority ($229), the Atmos Rewards Ascent for Alaska and Hawaiian ($95), the Delta SkyMiles Gold ($0 the first year, then $150), the Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select ($99, waived the first year), and the Capital One Venture ($95) for anyone who does not want to be tied to one airline.
I have run The Points King since 2017. We buy miles and points for cash, so I look at these cards from the far end: what the miles are worth after they have been earned. This page has no affiliate links, which is not how most card lists work: see what a credit card broker is. Each pick links to a longer review that shows the terms and where they came from.
The Six Cards at a Glance
| Card | Best for | Annual fee | Welcome offer, October 2026 | Free checked bag |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Quest Card | United flyers who check bags | $350 | 80,000 miles after $4,000 in purchases in 3 months | First and second bag, for the cardholder and one companion |
| Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority | Southwest regulars and families | $229 | 60,000 points after $2,000 in purchases in 3 months | First bag, for the cardmember and up to 8 others |
| Atmos Rewards Ascent Visa Signature | Alaska and Hawaiian flyers | $95 | 50,000 points and a $99 Companion Fare after $1,500 in purchases in 90 days | First bag, for you and up to 6 guests |
| Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express | Delta flyers who want a low fee | $0 the first year, then $150 | “As high as 80,000 bonus miles” plus a $250 statement credit, with $3,000 in purchases in 6 months. Ends November 4, 2026 | First bag on Delta flights |
| Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select | American flyers | $99, waived for the first 12 months | 50,000 miles after $2,500 in purchases in 3 months, as reported | First bag on domestic itineraries, for the cardholder and up to 4 companions |
| Capital One Venture Rewards | People who fly whoever is cheapest | $95 | 75,000 miles after $4,000 in purchases in 3 months, plus a one-time $300 Capital One Travel Stays credit | None |
Welcome offers change often. These are the terms on each issuer’s page, or as reported by the sources named in each review, when we checked on October 10, 2026. Bag benefits apply when the ticket is paid for with the card.
What Changed for Airline Cards in 2026
- United: from April 2, 2026, United cardholders get at least 10% off every United award flight, according to United’s announcement. Holding a United card now changes what an award costs.
- American: Citi is now the only issuer of American Airlines cards. Barclays-issued AAdvantage cards were converted to Citi cards in April 2026, One Mile at a Time reported. Basic economy tickets bought on or after December 17, 2025 no longer earn miles, per AwardWallet.
- Alaska and Hawaiian: the two airlines now share one program, Atmos Rewards. Since October 1, 2026 members can pick how they will earn from January 1, 2027: by distance, by ticket price or by segment, according to One Mile at a Time.
- Southwest: Southwest now assigns seats, so the Priority card’s seat benefit matters in a way it did not when boarding was open seating.
- Delta: the Gold card’s welcome offer on delta.com has a stated end date of November 4, 2026.
1. United Quest Card: Best for United Flyers Who Check Bags
At $350 the Quest has the highest fee on this list, and it is the easiest one to do the math on. $200 comes back each year as United TravelBank cash. From the first anniversary there is a 10,000-mile discount on one award flight a year. The first and second checked bags are free for you and one companion. If you fly United a few times a year and check bags, those three cover the fee. If you fly United once a year with a carry-on, they do not.
Read the full United Quest Card review.
2. Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority: Best for Southwest Regulars
The Priority card costs $229. It returns 7,500 points every anniversary, a free first checked bag for you and up to eight other people on the same reservation, a Preferred seat at booking when one is available, and 10,000 points a year toward the Companion Pass. It earns 4 points per dollar on Southwest purchases. For a family that flies Southwest together, the bag benefit alone can decide it.
Read the full Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority review.
3. Atmos Rewards Ascent: Best for Alaska and Hawaiian Flyers
Bank of America issues this one and charges $95. You get a free first checked bag for you and up to six guests, 3 points per dollar on Alaska and Hawaiian purchases, and a Companion Fare of $99 plus taxes and fees from $23 on each anniversary once you have spent $6,000 in the prior year. The Points Guy values Atmos points at 1.55 cents each for October 2026, the highest of the five airline currencies on this page.
Read the full Atmos Rewards Ascent review.
4. Delta SkyMiles Gold: Best Low-Fee Card for Delta Flyers
The Gold card costs nothing the first year and $150 after that. The first checked bag is free on Delta flights, award travel on Delta flights is 15% off, and the card earns 2 miles per dollar on Delta purchases, at restaurants and at U.S. supermarkets. It does not include Sky Club access. If you want lounges, this is the wrong Delta card.
Read the full Delta SkyMiles Gold review.
5. Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select: Best for American Flyers
The fee is $99, waived for the first 12 months. The first checked bag is free on domestic American itineraries for you and up to four companions, boarding is preferred, and the card earns 2 miles per dollar on American purchases, at gas stations and at restaurants. Citi’s own card page was not available when we checked, so these terms are as reported by NerdWallet and One Mile at a Time, and the review says so.
Read the full Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select review.
6. Capital One Venture Rewards: Best if You Are Not Loyal to One Airline
The Venture is not an airline card, and that is why it is here. It earns 2 miles per dollar on every purchase for $95 a year, and Capital One lets you move those miles to more than 15 travel loyalty programs. There is no free checked bag. If you book whichever airline has the best fare, a flat card that follows you anywhere beats a bag benefit you use once a year.
Read the full Capital One Venture Rewards review.
What the Miles From Each Card Are Worth
| Currency | The Points Guy, October 2026 | NerdWallet, October 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| United MileagePlus miles | 1.2 cents | 1.2 cents |
| Southwest Rapid Rewards points | 1.25 cents | 1.4 cents |
| Atmos Rewards points | 1.55 cents | 1.4 cents |
| Delta SkyMiles | 1.2 cents | 1.2 cents |
| American AAdvantage miles | 1.45 cents | 1.7 cents |
| Capital One miles | 1.85 cents | 1.3 cents |
The two outlets measure differently, which is why they disagree. For how these numbers are built, see how much airline miles are worth in 2026.
How I Would Choose
- You fly one airline three or more times a year and check a bag: take that airline’s card. The bag benefit is the part you will feel.
- You travel with family on one reservation: Southwest Priority covers up to nine people, the Atmos Ascent seven, and the Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select five.
- You fly whoever is cheapest: the Capital One Venture.
- You want to try an airline card at the lowest cost: the Delta Gold at $0 for the first year, or the Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select with its fee waived for 12 months.
- You do not want another credit card: there are ways to earn airline miles without a card.
- You are not sure a miles card is worth it: I compare one with a flat 2% card in airline miles vs. cash back cards.
If You Have Miles You Will Not Use
Brokers, including The Points King, buy airline miles for cash. Selling miles is against the terms of the programs on this page, and a program can take the miles back or close the account of a member who sells them. Read the risks of selling miles and points first, then see our page on selling airline miles for cash.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best airline credit card in 2026?
There is no single best one. The right card is the one for the airline you fly most: the United Quest for United, the Southwest Priority for Southwest, the Atmos Ascent for Alaska and Hawaiian, the Delta Gold for Delta, and the Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select for American. If you have no main airline, a flexible card such as the Capital One Venture fits better.
Which airline credit card has the lowest annual fee?
Of the six here, the Delta SkyMiles Gold costs $0 the first year and then $150, and the Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select waives its $99 fee for the first 12 months. The Atmos Ascent and the Capital One Venture cost $95 from the first year.
Which airline card is best for free checked bags?
For the most people on one reservation, the Southwest Priority: the cardmember and up to eight others. For two bags each, the United Quest: first and second bags for the cardholder and one companion.
Is an airline credit card worth it if I fly once or twice a year?
Usually not for the bag benefit alone. A card with a fee waived in the first year, or a flexible card that earns the same rate on every purchase, is the safer choice. Our credit card tips for maximizing rewards cover the basics.
Do airline miles expire?
United miles and Delta SkyMiles do not expire. American AAdvantage miles expire after 24 months with no qualifying activity, under American’s terms.
Sources
- Chase: Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card, read October 10, 2026
- Bank of America: Atmos Rewards Ascent Visa Signature, read October 10, 2026
- American Express: Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card, read October 10, 2026
- Capital One: Venture Rewards Credit Card, read October 10, 2026
- One Mile at a Time: United Quest Card review, updated October 5, 2026
- NerdWallet: Citi AAdvantage Platinum review, October 1, 2026
- United: MileagePlus changes for cardholders, February 19, 2026
- American Airlines: AAdvantage terms and conditions, effective March 1, 2026
- The Points Guy: monthly valuations, October 1, 2026
- NerdWallet: points and miles valuations, updated October 6, 2026