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Airline credit cards can be a valuable tool in a traveler's pocket. Often, these cards come with benefits such as free checked bags, discounts on in-flight purchases, elevated earnings on your spending, and more. If you fly semi-regularly, having one of these cards could bring enough benefits to outweigh any annual fee that comes with the card.
However, we know you may not want to fork over a large annual fee for an airline card, even if the benefits are solid. With that in mind, we've compiled a list of our favorite cards with annual fees under $100. Here's what to know.
Page Contents
- The 10 Best Airline Credit Cards With Annual Fees Under $100
- Best for Delta Air Lines: Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card
- Best for United Airlines: United Gateway℠ Card
- Best for American Airlines: Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®
- Best for Southwest: Southwest Plus Card
- Best for Atmos Rewards: Atmos™ Rewards Ascent Visa Signature® card
- Best for Air Canada: Aeroplan® Credit Card
- Best for JetBlue: JetBlue Plus Card
- Best for low cost carriers: FRONTIER Airlines World Mastercard®
- Best for earning Avios: British Airways Visa Signature® Card
- Best for earning LifeMiles: avianca American Express Card
- Bottom Line
The 10 Best Airline Credit Cards With Annual Fees Under $100
When discussing co-branded credit cards, the best choice will obviously be the credit card for the airline you enjoy flying. Even if a card has stellar benefits, if you've had a negative experience with an airline before and refuse to ever fly them again, the card has no utility to you.
So, we've provided a roundup of the best low- or no-annual-fee credit cards for each of the major U.S. airlines, along with a few selections for international airlines that are popular with U.S. travelers.
Best for Delta Air Lines: Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card
If you live near a Delta hub, earning Delta SkyMiles can make a lot of sense. Delta's only card with less than a $100 annual fee is the $0-annual-fee Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card (Rates & Fees). This card earns 2 miles per dollar at restaurants worldwide and on purchases made directly with Delta, plus 1 mile on all other purchases.. It doesn't come with a ton of benefits, but it's a starter card that helps you get introduced to the world of points and miles.
(Terms apply)
- Earn 10,000 bonus miles after you spend $1,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.
- No Annual Fee.
- Earn 2X Miles per dollar at restaurants worldwide, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S.
- Earn 2X Miles per dollar spent on Delta purchases, and 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases.
- Pay with Miles: take up to $50 off the cost of your flight for every 5,000 miles you redeem with Pay with Miles when you book on delta.com.
- Receive a 20% savings in the form of a statement credit after you use your Card on eligible Delta in-flight purchases of food, beverages, and audio headsets.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
- 2X miles per dollar spent on purchases made directly with Delta
- 2X miles per dollar at restaurants worldwide, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S.
- 1 mile on every eligible dollar spent on purchases
Related: Blue Delta Amex full review
If you want a lot more benefits at a higher annual fee, the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card is your best option. It offers one of the most valuable perks of any Delta credit card: TakeOff 15 provides an automatic 15% discount on award redemptions on all Delta-operated flights.
This card charges a $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150 (Rates & Fees). The ongoing $150 annual fee means it doesn't qualify for this list, but it's worth a shoutout since it doesn't charge a fee in your first year of membership. You can also earn a $100 Delta Stays statement credit each calendar year.
(Terms apply)
- You may be eligible for as high as 80,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $2,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you're approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount - all with no credit score impact. If you're approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Enjoy a $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150.
- Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- $200 Delta Flight Credit: After you spend $10,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, you can receive a $200 Delta Flight Credit to use toward future travel.
- When you use your Delta SkyMiles® 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.
- Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights and save up to $70 per person on a round-trip Delta flight.
- Receive Zone 5 Priority Boarding on Delta flights; board early, stow your carry-on bag and settle in sooner.
- $100 Delta Stays Credit: Get up to $100 back per year as a statement credit after using your Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card to book prepaid hotels or vacation rentals through Delta Stays on delta.com.
- Want even more flexibility? Take up to $50 off the cost of your flight for every 5,000 miles you redeem with Pay with Miles when you book on delta.com.
- Receive a 20% savings in the form of a statement credit on eligible Delta in-flight purchases after using your Card.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
- With Send & Split®, you can send money and split your Card purchases with any other Venmo or PayPal user, directly from the Amex App. Enroll today.
- Terms Apply.
- 2X miles per dollar spent on purchases made directly with Delta
- 2X miles per dollar spent at U.S. supermarkets
- 2X miles per dollar at restaurants worldwide, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S.
- 1X miles on all other eligible purchases
Best for United Airlines: United Gateway℠ Card
The United Gateway℠ Card offers some benefits, considering that it doesn't charge an annual fee.
However, you'll need to meet a minimum spending requirement to unlock the benefits. Once you spend $10,000 in a calendar year, you'll save at least 10% on flights booked with miles, earn more miles on flights, and receive two checked bag certificates. With United increasing checked bag fees, these two certificates offer a solid return on your spending.
- Earn up to 40,000 bonus miles
- 0% intro APR for the first 12 months from account opening on purchases & no annual fee.
- 5x total miles on eligible United flights and 2x miles on all other eligible United® purchases
- 2x miles at gas stations, on local transit and commuting
- 1x mile on all other purchases
- 25% back as a statement credit on purchases of food, beverages and Wi-Fi on board United-operated flights and on Club premium drinks when you pay with your Gateway Card
- Earn 2 checked bags after you spend $10,000 in a calendar year
- NEW! Save at least 10% on flights booked with miles after spending $10,000 in a calendar year
- Member FDIC
- 2X miles per $1 spent on United® purchases*
- 2X miles per $1 spent at gas stations, on local transit and commuting
- 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases
Related: United Gateway Card full review
Just like with Delta, your perks increase significantly if you can afford to pay a long-term annual fee. The United℠ Explorer Card offers a slew of benefits — like up to $120 in annual Instacart credits, up to $60 in annual rideshare credits, up to $100 in annual credits on prepaid hotels through United Hotels, and up to $50 in United Travel Credits for an Avis or Budget car rented through cars.united.com. But, you'll pay a $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $150 annual fee (Rates & Fees).
This card also rewards spending more: You'll earn a $100 United travel credit if you spend $10,000 in a calendar year. After spending $20,000, you'll earn a 10,000-mile award flight discount.
- Earn up to 80,000 bonus miles
- $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150
- NEW! 9x total miles on eligible United flights and 3x miles on all other eligible United® purchases.
- 2x miles on dining and hotel stays when booked with the hotel. 1x mile on all other purchases.
- Free first checked bag - a savings of up to $160 per roundtrip. Terms Apply. Plus, priority boarding on United® flights.
- 2 United Club one-time passes per year - over a $100 value
- Over $500 in partner credits each year
- NEW! Save at least 10% when booking flights with miles. Premier members earn even more.
- Member FDIC
- 3X miles per $1 spent on purchases from United®*
- 2X miles per $1 spent on dining and hotel stays when booked with the hotel
- 1X mile per $1 spent on all other purchases
Best for American Airlines: Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®
A standout feature of the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® is that the first checked bag is free for the cardholder and up to four other people traveling on the same reservation. Given that checked bags now cost at least $45 on American Airlines, this could save you up to $225 per trip. This benefit alone makes up for the ongoing annual fee.
On top of that, cardholders receive a 25% discount on in-flight food and beverage purchases and preferred boarding for the cardholder and up to four companions traveling together. American Airlines miles are incredibly valuable, thanks to some great sweet spots and airline travel partners. You'll also earn Loyalty Points toward elite status with purchases on your card.
With these perks, it's easy to justify the annual fee of $99, waived for first 12 months.
- Free checked bags for you and up to 4 companions on domestic itineraries
- Priority boarding to help you win the race for overhead bin space
- A 25% discount on inflight food, beverage, and Wi-Fi purchases
- Earn 2X miles for every $1 spent at restaurants
- Earn 2X miles for every $1 spent at gas stations
- Earn 2X miles for every $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases
- Earn 1X mile for every $1 spent on all other purchases
Related: Citi AA Platinum Select full review
Best for Southwest: Southwest Plus Card
Southwest has undergone a full brand transformation over the past few years. As a result, Southwest's co-branded credit cards now include benefits that used to be free for all travelers, such as free checked bags. If you are a Southwest frequent flyer or are attempting to earn the coveted Companion Pass, it can make a lot of sense to apply for the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card.
Every year, you'll receive 3,000 bonus Rapid Rewards points and a boost of 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points. You'll also receive a 10% flight discount promo code on each cardmember anniversary. Other benefits include complimentary standard seat selection within 48 hours of departure, Group 5 priority boarding, and 25% back on in-flight purchases.
- Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- 3,000 anniversary points each year.
- Earn 2 points per $1 spent on Southwest Airlines® purchases
- Earn 2 points for every $1 you spend at gas stations and grocery stores on the first $5,000 in combined purchases per anniversary year
- Cardmembers and up to 8 additional passengers in the same reservation can check their first bag at no additional cost.
- Select a Standard seat within 48 hours prior to departure, when available.
- Earn 1 point for every $1 spent on all other purchases.
- No foreign transaction fees.
- Member FDIC
- 2X points per $1 spent on Southwest® purchases
- 2 points for every $1 you spend at gas stations and grocery stores on the first $5,000 in combined purchases per anniversary year
- 1X point per $1 spent on all other purchases
Related: Southwest Plus Card full review
Best for Atmos Rewards: Atmos™ Rewards Ascent Visa Signature® card
Similar to Southwest, Alaska Airlines has changed a lot in recent years. Thanks to the merger between Alaska and Hawaiian, and the launch of the joint loyalty program Atmos Rewards, the Atmos™ Rewards Ascent Visa Signature® card comes with a few notable perks.
As a cardholder, you'll receive free checked bags and preferred boarding for you and up to six companions when you use your card to book your Alaska Airlines or Hawaiian Airlines flight. You'll also earn 20% back on in-flight purchases on Alaska and Hawaiian.
Arguably the most valuable of its benefits is Alaska's famous Companion Fare — which drops the price of adding a companion to just $99 plus taxes and fees starting at $23 — every account anniversary if you spend $6,000 or more on the card in the previous cardholder year. Since Alaska miles are harder to come by, applying for a low-annual-fee card like the Atmos Ascent Visa Card can be a wise choice for frequent flyers.
- Earn unlimited 3 miles for every $1 spent on eligible Alaska Airlines purchases
- Earn unlimited 2 miles for every $1 spent on eligible gas, EV charging stations, cable, streaming services and local transit (including ride share) purchases
- Earn unlimited 1 mile for every $1 spent on all other eligible purchases
Related: Atmos Ascent Visa Card full review
Best for Air Canada: Aeroplan® Credit Card
Holding the Aeroplan® Credit Card (Rates & Fees) gives you a healthy stash of Aeroplan points to book flights with Air Canada or its 50+ airline partners. The Aeroplan loyalty program tends to fly under the radar; however, it has many sweet spots and is not only for Canadians or people visiting Canada.
Aeroplan Card benefits include automatic Aeroplan 25K elite status for new cardholders, a path to spending toward retaining your status or reaching higher status tiers, your first checked bag free, preferred pricing on award bookings, a credit for your Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS application fee every four years, and other travel protections. These benefits more than make up for the reasonable $95 annual fee.
- Earn 75,000 bonus points
- Limited Time Offer: Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.
- $95 Annual Fee
- Redeem points for both international and domestic flights with the Aeroplan® Credit Card.
- Fly to another continent and travel the world with the Aeroplan® Credit Card.
- Earn 3X points for each dollar spent at grocery stores, on dining at restaurants, and Air Canada directly. Earn 1X point for each dollar spent on all other purchases.
- 500 bonus points for every $2,000 you spend in a calendar month - up to 1,500 points per month.
- Member FDIC
- 3x points directly with Air Canada
- 3x points on dining, including takeout and eligible delivery services
- 3x points at grocery stores
- 1x point on all other purchases
Related: Aeroplan Card full review
Best for JetBlue: JetBlue Plus Card
The JetBlue Plus Card offers TrueBlue points that are easy to redeem, given that they're tied to the cash price of tickets, have no blackout dates, and can be used for any seat on the plane. As a cardholder, you'll get a free checked bag for you and up to three companions on your reservation, plus 5,000 bonus points on each account anniversary.
Additional benefits include 50% off in-flight purchases, 10% points rebate on award redemptions, and an annual $100 statement credit on JetBlue Vacations bookings of $100 or more. For a card with an annual fee of just $99, it offers many high-value perks.
Related: Which JetBlue Credit Card Is Right for You?
Best for low cost carriers: FRONTIER Airlines World Mastercard®
Each of the major low-cost airlines in the U.S. offers a co-branded credit card. However, our pick is the FRONTIER Airlines World Mastercard®, as Frontier operates more routes than any other low-cost airline. Cardholders receive two free checked bags, Group 4 priority boarding, and an award redemption fee waiver. And if you spend at least $2,500 on your card each year, you'll earn a $100 Frontier flight voucher — enough to justify the ongoing annual fee.
In addition to mileage earnings, you'll earn 1 elite status point for every $1 spent on your card. As a reminder, you'll earn Elite Platinum status at 50,000 status points, which includes unlimited companion travel. If you want to reach Platinum as quickly as possible, earning status points on your day-to-day purchases is a great way to do so.
Related: How the Frontier Companion Certificate Works
Other cards from low-cost carriers — like the Allways Rewards Visa® Credit Card, and Breeze Easy™ Visa® Credit Card — also offer annual fees below $100. They are worth considering if you live near an airport served by one of these airlines.
Best for earning Avios: British Airways Visa Signature® Card
British Airways is known for charging hefty fuel surcharges, but if you have the British Airways Visa Signature® Card (Rates & Fees), you can get up to $600 per year in rebates to cover award taxes and fees. You'll receive up to $100 for economy and premium economy and up to $200 for business and first class seats. So, to fully maximize the benefit, you'll need to book business class seats at least three times per year. However, this benefit alone can justify the annual fee.
Other benefits include 10% off British Airways flights and the opportunity to earn a Travel Together Ticket every calendar year you spend $30,000 on your card. It's valid for two years and can be used as a 50% discount on the Avios price you pay when you book a solo reward flight, or to cover the cost of a companion traveling on the same flight.
In addition to the card benefits, the British Airways Club offers unique booking opportunities with dozens of partner airlines. It uses a distance-based award chart, so short hops and positioning flights can be a steal. The Aer Lingus Visa Signature® Card, Iberia Visa Signature® Card, and Qatar Airways Privilege Club Visa Signature Credit Card are also solid options for anyone who wants to boost their Avios balance.
- Earn 75,000 Avios after you spend $5,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening.
- Earn 3 Avios per $1 spent on purchases with British Airways, Aer Lingus, Iberia, and LEVEL.
- Earn 2 Avios per $1 spent on hotel accommodations when purchased directly with the hotel.
- 10% off British Airways flights starting in the US when you book through the website provided in your welcome materials.
- Every calendar year you make $30,000 in purchases on your British Airways Visa card, you'll earn a Travel Together Ticket good for two years.
- Pay no foreign transaction fees when you travel abroad.
- Simply tap to pay with your contactless British Airways Visa Signature Card. Just look for the contactless symbol at checkout. It's fast, easy and secure!
- Member FDIC
- 3X Avios per $1 spent on purchases with British Airways, Aer Lingus, Iberia, and LEVEL
- 2X Avios per $1 spent on hotel accommodations
- 1X Avios for every $1 spent on all other purchases
Related: British Airways Visa Card full review
Best for earning LifeMiles: avianca American Express Card
Avianca LifeMiles are one of the best ways to book Star Alliance redemptions. If you want to boost your LifeMiles balance, the avianca lifemiles American Express® Card can help. One of its primary benefits is automatic Silver Elite status, which includes lounge access, premium seat selection, upgrades, an additional checked bag, 30% bonus miles, priority check-in and boarding, and more. It's not very often that a credit card with a $99 annual fee comes with automatic elite status.
- Earn 2x miles on avianca or lifemiles purchases
- Earn 2x miles on groceries and restaurant purchases
- Earn 1x on all other eligible purchases
- Receive avianca lifemiles Silver Elite status
- No foreign transaction fees (See Rates & Fees)
- *See Offer Terms
- 2x miles on avianca or lifemiles purchases
- 2x miles on groceries and restaurant purchases
- 1x on all other eligible purchases
Related: avianca American Express Card full review
Bottom Line
If you're averse to high annual fees but still want a great airline card, you have options. Check out the benefits of each to decide which is the right fit for you. And with such low annual fees, you may even want to grab more than one. And if you aren't loyal to one airline, consider applying for a general travel rewards card that earns a transferable point currency.
For rates and fees of the cards mentioned in this post, please visit the following links: Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card (Rates & Fees), Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card (Rates & Fees), United Gateway℠ Card (Rates & Fees), United℠ Explorer Card (Rates & Fees), Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card (Rates & Fees), Aeroplan® Credit Card (Rates & Fees), British Airways Visa Signature® Card (Rates & Fees), and avianca lifemiles American Express® Card (Rates & Fees)
