Fly for less with the 10 best airline credit cards

Frequent Delta flyers benefit from the Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card through perks like a free checked bag and priority boarding. Other benefits include no foreign transaction fees, an annual fee waiver for the first year, and a sign-up bonus of 80,000 miles with qualifying transactions. Cardholders earn two miles per dollar spent at supermarkets and restaurants, including takeout and delivery, in the United States.

The Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card comes packed with benefits, including a 100,000-mile sign-up bonus with qualifying purchases, free Delta Sky Club access, complimentary upgrades, Global Entry or TSA PreCheck fee credit, and one companion certificate each year.

With the United Explorer Card, cardholders earn twice the base mile amount on United purchases, dining, and hotel stays. Perks also include priority boarding, a free first checked bag, and two one-time passes to a United Club each year. Miles can be redeemed with United or Star Alliance partners, there are no foreign transaction fees, and the annual fee is $150 — waived for the first year.

Miles accrued through the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature card can be redeemed on travel with around a dozen partner airlines. A sign-up bonus of 50,000 miles after qualifying purchases, discounted companion fares, no foreign transaction fees, and priority boarding add to the appeal. Plus, their Mileage Plan is one of the more generous frequent flyer programs; they award miles based upon distance flown, and then some.

The Barclays AAdvantage Aviator Red World Elite Mastercard offers key perks to cardholders including preferred boarding on American Airlines flights and a free checked bag. In addition, cardholders can get discounts or cash back on in-flight purchases and there are no foreign transaction fees.

Travelers with a Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard get their first checked bag free for themselves and up to four companions, plus preferred boarding on American Airlines, no foreign transaction fees, and 25% off eligible in-flight purchases. Cardholders earn two miles for every dollar spent on American Airlines purchases or at restaurants and gas stations.

Cardholders of the Free Spirit Travel More World Elite Mastercard earn three times the points on Spirit Airline purchases and double points on dining and groceries. Other card benefits include priority boarding, points pooling, and a $100 companion flight voucher per year, if the annual spending requirement is met. The card has no foreign transaction fees and a $79 annual fee, which is waived the first year.

With the Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard, frequent flyers earn four miles for every dollar spent on American Airlines purchases and one mile per dollar spent everywhere else. Additional benefits include Admirals Club membership, Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit, and 100,000 bonus miles with qualifying purchases in the first three months.

For fans of JetBlue, the JetBlue Plus Mastercard offers six points per dollar spent on JetBlue purchases, two points per dollar at restaurants and grocery stores, and one point per dollar everywhere else. Cardholders enjoy no foreign transaction fees, a 60,000-point sign-up bonus after qualifying account activity, a free first checked bag, 50% savings on eligible in-flight purchases, and a 5,000-point bonus after each account anniversary.

The Allways Rewards Visa Card earns three points per dollar on Allegiant purchases, two points per dollar on qualified dining, and one point per dollar on everything else. Other perks include a 25,000-point sign-up bonus after qualifying purchases, buy-one-get-one airfare on qualifying vacation packages, priority boarding, and a free beverage on every Allegiant flight.