Airline Credit Cards: Compare and Apply Alaska Airlines Signature Visa   Annual Fee Intro. Bonus Earning Features Redemption Opportunities $75 20,000 miles 1 mile per $ 2 miles per $ on Alaska Air purchases 2 Boardroom Club passes   $50 companion ticket From Alaska Account: Alaska/Horizon, American, British Air, Cathay, Continental, Delta, Hawaiian, LAN, Norhtwest, Qantas, Amtrak (West Coast)   VIA Transfer: None Best for Alaska Airlines flyers who purchase their own tickets on Alaska Air and qualify for the 2 mile per $ earning rate will benefit most. Otherwise, the Starwood Amex offers better earning power with a lower fee, as Starwood points can be transferred to your Alaska account at 1:1, with a 5000 point bonus for 20,000 point increments. Upsides Boardroom passes, high introductory bonus, and the $50 companion ticket are positive features, especially for West Coast based flyers. Alaska also has one of the most diverse partner programs -- you can book awards on American, British Airways, Continental, Delta, Northwest, Qantas, and Hawaii airlines with your Alaska miles. Downsides High annual fee. Competitive Alternatives Starwood Preferred Guest American Express -- Can transfer points 1:1 to Alaska for free, and get a 5,000 mile bonus for each 20,000 points you transfer, effectively earning 1.25 miles per dollars spent Diners Club -- Can transfer points 1:1 to Alaska accounts iAmtrak Guest Rewards World MasterCard   Annual Fee Intro. Bonus Earning Features Redemption Opportunities $0 5,000 points 1 points per $ 2 points per $ on Amtrak   From Amtrak Account: Amtrak   VIA Transfer: Continental Airlines, Midwest Express Airlines, Starwood Hotels, Hilton Hotels, Hyatt Hotels, Carnival Cruises Best for Heavy Amtrak travelers who want to top off their accounts -- although the Starwood Preferred Guest American Express also lets you transfer its points into your Amtrak account at 1:1. We think it's a more flexible option. Upsides No annual fee. Easy transfer of points to and from Continental and Midwest Airlines. Amtrak point rewards are also a good value if you live in the Northeast for the Regional, Metroliner, and Acela trains. You may also transfer your points to many hotel chains, but points do get diluted. Downsides Limit on annual number of points you can transfer to Continental/Midwest. Competitive Alternatives The Starwood Preferred Guest American Express lets you transfer points to Amtrak at an even 1:1 ratio. We recommend this card over the standard Amtrak card for added flexibility.  Citi® Platinum Select® AAdvantage® World MasterCard®   Annual Fee Intro. Bonus Earning Features Redemption Opportunities Also available as a Business credit card. Click here. $85 (no fee first year) 25,000 AAdvantage® bonus miles after you make $750 in purchases within 4 months 1 mile per $ Reduced mileage awards -- 7,500 fewer miles to select destinations announced quarterly From American Account: American, OneWorld (Aer Lingus, British, Cathay, Finnair, Iberia, LAN, Qantas), Alaska, Sahara, Air Tahiti, Taca, El Al, Hawaiian, Japan, Mexicana, TAM   VIA Transfer ($25/transfer): Hilton, InterContinental, Marriott Best for American Airlines frequent flyers who can take advantage of the occasional reduced mileage award. If you have miles in your AAdvantage® account already, the 25,000 mile bonus is worth more than the first year fee when part of a typical award. Upsides Ability to transfer to select hotel programs, generous signon bonus is enough for a free domestic roundtrip ticket. Downsides High annual fee, conversion rate to hotel programs. Competitive Alternatives Starwood Preferred Guest American Express -- Can transfer points 1:1 to American for free, and get a 5,000 mile bonus for each 20,000 points you transfer, effectively earning 1.25 miles per dollar spent Diners Club -- Can transfer points 1:1 to American accounts Continental Airlines   Annual Fee Intro. Bonus Earning Features Redemption Opportunities Click here to be directed to Continental Airlines for details about their credit card partners. NA NA NA See Continental Airlines for details     From Continental Account: Continental, SkyTeam (Air France, Aeroflot, Aeromexico, Alitalia, CSA, Delta, KLM, Korean, Northwest), Alaska, Copa, TAP, Virgin Atlantic, Emirates.   VIA Transfer: Amtrak Competitive Alternatives Chase Freedom (SM) Card Visa. No annual fee and lets you convert points into Continental miles. 6,000 points = 5,000 miles. Great option for people who also want cash back flexibility. Amtrak Guest Rewards World MasterCard . No annual fee and lets you convert points to Continental one for one...but limits you to 25,000 miles per year in conversions. American Express Membership Rewards -- Can transfer points 1:1 Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express: EDITORS CHOICE BEST MAJOR AIRLINE CARD   Annual Fee Intro. Bonus Earning Features Redemption Opportunities $0 first year, $85 after ($40 for current Amex members) 15,000 miles 2500 additional miles when you add another cardmember to your account 1 mile per $ 2 miles per $ on Delta purchases and 'everyday' items (dining, gas, groceries, home improvement\) From Delta Account: Delta, SkyTeam (Air France, Aeroflot, Aeromexico, Alitalia, Continental, CSA, Delta, KLM, Korean, Northwest), Air Jamaica, Alaska, Avianca, El Al, Emirates, Singapore, South African   VIA Transfer: None Best for Delta Airlines flyers who frequently purchase their own tickets on Delta, or have heavy 'everyday' (dining, gas) spending to earn double points. Upsides Double points on 'everyday' purchases. Occasional 'double points per dollar on everything' promotions make it very lucrative when offered . Downsides High annual fee unless you already have an Amex card, no travel discounts. Competitive Alternatives Starwood Preferred Guest American Express -- Can transfer points 1:1 to Delta for free, and get a 5,000 mile bonus for each 20,000 points you transfer, effectively earning 1.25 miles per dollar spent. Diners Club MasterCard  -- Can transfer points 1:1 to Delta accounts American Express Membership Rewards -- Can transfer points 1:1   JetBlue TrueBlue American Express   Annual Fee Intro. Bonus Earning Features Redemption Opportunities $40 10,000 award dollars 1 award dollar per $ 200 award dollars = 1 JetBlue point 100 JetBlue points = 1 roundtrip From JetBlue Account: JetBlue   VIA Transfer: None Best for JetBlue frequent flyers, who already have JetBlue flight credits and are looking for a way to supplement their JetBlue account. Upsides Only card that allows collection of JetBlue points besides Amex Membership Rewards, and is more efficient than Membrship Rewards (20,000 dollars of purchases for a ticket versus 25,000 for Membership Rewards). Downsides No options besides JetBlue redemption.  People who like to fly JetBlue domestically, but not often may be better off earning hotel points with a different card, as hotel rewards are generally more valuable than domestic JetBlue flights in terms of the number of dollars you need to spend to get a valuable award. Competitive Alternatives American Express Membership Rewards -- Can transfer points -- 25,000 needed for a reward Northwest WorldPerks Visa   Annual Fee Intro. Bonus Earning Features Redemption Opportunities $90 (Signature, for higher credit line) / $55 (Platinum, up to $15K line) 10,000 miles signature, 7500 platinum 1 mile per $ 2 miles per $ for Northwest Airlines purchases Reduced 19,000 mile award travel discount annually (Signature), 21,000 Platinum. Normally 25,000 miles. From Northwest Account: Northwest, SkyTeam(Air France, Aeroflot, Aeromexico, Alitalia, Continental, CSA, Delta, KLM, Korean), Alaska, Malaysia, Malev, JetAirways, Midwest   VIA Transfer: None Best for Northwest frequent flyers, although competitive alternatives like the Starwood Amex deserve serious consideration. Upsides Occasional bonus promotions, annual reduced mileage award (only valid on North America tickets, 7,500 each on two purchased together). Downsides High annual fee, low signon bonus. Competitive Alternatives Starwood Preferred Guest American Express -- Can transfer points 1:1 to NWA for free, and get a 5,000 mile bonus for each 20,000 points you transfer, effectively earning 1.25 miles per dollar spent. Southwest RapidRewards Visa    Annual Fee Intro. Bonus Earning Features Redemption Opportunities $59 8 RapidRewards credits 1 reward dollar per $ 2 reward dollars per $ on Southwest and preferred hotel/car rental purchases (1200 reward dollars = 1 RapidRewards credit, 16 credits = roundtrip ticket) 2 RapidRewards bonus credits each year on your card anniversary From Southwest Account: Southwest, ATA codshares   VIA Transfer: None Best for If you have a RapidRewards account with flight credits you'd like to top off, this card is the most efficient way, as Southwest dilutes point transfers from other programs (Diners, Amex Membership Rewards, Hiltont) heavily Upsides Most efficient way to earn RapidRewards credits through purchases (19500 dollars purchased for one roundtrip, versus 24,000 for Diners and Membership Rewards). Downsides High annual fee, no flexibility in redemption partners. Competitive Alternatives Diners Club MasterCard  -- 24,000 points = 1 roundtrip American Express Membership rewards -- 24,000 points = 1 roundtrip United Airlines   Annual Fee Intro. Bonus Earning Features Redemption Opportunities Click here to be directed to United Airlines for details regarding their credit card partners. NA NA NA NA From United Account: United, StarAlliance (Air Canada Air New Zealand, ANA, Asiana, Austrian, bmi, LOT, Lufthansa, SAS, Singapore, South African, TAP, Thai, US Airways,), Emirates, Air China, Aloha, Qatar, TACA   VIA Transfer: None Competitive Alternatives Chase Freedom (SM) Visa - No annual fee and lets you transfer points you earn into United miles. 6,000 points = 5,000 miles. Also gives you cash back flexibility. United flyers can consider using a US Airways account and using the Dividend Miles Visa (below), as US Airways miles can be redeemed fully on United, although it has to be from a US Airways account, so you can't mix and match points. US Airways Dividend Miles Visa   Annual Fee Intro. Bonus Earning Features Redemption Opportunities $90 25,000 miles (Signature) 1 mile/point per $ (2 miles/points per $ on US Air purchases for Signature) Preferred checkin/boarding US Airways Club pass $75 off Club membership $99 companion ticket From US Airwways Account: US Airways/America West, StarAlliance (Air Canada Air New Zealand, ANA, Asiana, Austrian, bmi, LOT, Lufthansa, SAS, Singapore, South African, TAP, Thai, United,), Virgin Atlantic, Hawaiian   VIA Transfer: None Best for Flyers for whom US Airways or a Star Alliance carrier is their most convenient airline for redemption. The generous signon bonus is enough for a free domestic roundtrip ticket pending availability, and medium-load flyers on US will enjoy the convenience of priorty boarding for Signature holders. However,  beyond the first year, an Amex Starwood may be a better choice for average US travelers, as it offers a 5,000 point bonus for every 20,000 points sent to your US account, as well as the option for efficient hotel rewards. Upsides Very generous signon bonus (enough for a free ticket) and elite-like boarding/checkin benefits for Signature card. Downsides High annual fee Competitive Alternatives Starwood Preferred Guest American Express  -- Can transfer points 1:1 to US for free, and get a 5,000 mile bonus for each 20,000 points you transfer, effectively earning 1.25 miles per dollar spent on all purchases.