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I used to think of airline credit cards as useful tools for earning miles for “someday” award flights. And they still are. But as airlines shift to rewarding spending over flying, I’ve found that an airline card’s value is really in the perks, not the points.
Air travel has gotten expensive lately. Bag fees are rising, basic fares are becoming more restrictive and dynamic award pricing makes good redemptions harder to find. Even reaching elite status now requires heavy spending, not just flying.
Airline cards offer workarounds to these problems, though. Increasingly, they’re becoming valuable tools for navigating a more expensive and restrictive travel landscape — even for infrequent travelers.
Bag fee waivers matter more now
The standard price for a first checked bag used to be $35; now it’s $45. And it can be even more expensive with some airlines if you don’t prepay. United Airlines and American Airlines each charge $5 more per bag if you pay at the airport, while JetBlue Airways charges $10 more per bag.
Card perks can make basic fares more bearable
Airlines started offering basic fares over a decade ago. Those no-frills fares get you low upfront prices in exchange for less flexibility and extra fees for things like seat selection and carry-ons. And in recent years, they’ve become even more restrictive.
But airline cardholders are often shielded from the worst of it.
Cardholders can get discounted award flights
More airline cards are also offering discounts on award flights, perks that weren’t common just a few years ago.
Delta Air Lines led the way with this trend in 2023 when it launched its “TakeOff 15” benefit, which gets cardholders 15% off award redemptions on Delta flights.
These discounts might seem small, but they can add up to significant savings.
The most premium perks are increasingly tied to cards
As more airlines begin offering premium credit cards, we’re also starting to see incredibly valuable perks tied to having these airline cards. You don’t need to earn elite status to get these benefits; they’re available to anyone willing to pay the card’s annual fee. And big spenders can often earn even more perks.
Last year, I used that award to save over $3,000 on first-class tickets to Turks and Caicos on Oneworld partner American Airlines. That’s enough savings to cover the $395 annual fee for almost eight years. That level of flexibility and value without needing elite status is relatively new.
And the benefits get richer when you spend more. If you spend $60,000 on the Atmos™ Rewards Summit Visa Infinite® credit card in a year, you’ll unlock an additional 100,000-point Global Companion Award. That massive award more than covers an international business class flight with Oneworld partners, including top-tier carriers like Japan Airlines and Finnair.
What this shift means for travelers
If you’ve written off airline cards before, it might be time to take another look.
As airlines prioritize spending over flying, not holding a card can mean missing out on significant savings and benefits, not just extra miles. And with the high cost of flying, frequent flyers aren’t the only ones who benefit. With fewer inclusions in base fares and more dynamic award pricing, holding the right card is one of the simplest ways to pay less for the same trip.
