The United Quest℠ Card charges a $350 annual fee. In exchange, a cardholder and one companion get their first and second checked bags free on United flights paid for with the card.
That is one option in The Points Guy’s ranking of 17 airline credit cards. The site says “the best airline credit card varies for each traveler, depending on where you live and how often you fly.”
Most airline credit cards offer free checked baggage, early boarding and discounts on in-flight purchases. Premium cards may add lounge access or credit toward elite status.
The United Quest returns at least 10 miles per dollar on standard United fares and 4 miles per dollar on other eligible United purchases. That rate can climb if the cardholder has United status. It also carries a $200 TravelBank credit and an automatic 1,000 PQP boost each year. Cardholders earn 1 PQP for every $20 spent, capped at 18,000 PQPs annually. After each account anniversary, the card applies a 10,000-mile discount to a United award flight.
For flyers who split business among multiple carriers, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® includes a $300 travel credit that works on any airline. Purchases made directly with airlines earn 4 points per dollar. Purchases through the Chase Travel portal earn 8 points per dollar. The card comes with airport lounge access, including Chase Sapphire Lounge access for the primary cardholder and up to two guests, plus Priority Pass lounge access worldwide except restaurants. It also adds up to $120 in credits every four years for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or Nexus, and access to more than 20 Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounges when flying a Star Alliance carrier.
International travelers may lean toward the Atmos™ Rewards Summit Visa Infinite®. It pays 3 points per dollar on all foreign transactions and 3 points per dollar on eligible dining, Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines purchases. The card charges no foreign transaction fees. It adds up to $120 in Global Entry or TSA PreCheck statement credits every four years, along with 8 Alaska lounge passes and 8 Wi-Fi passes annually.
Renewal math
When renewal time arrives, The Points Guy suggests asking: “Are you utilizing benefits such as free checked baggage, companion tickets, priority boarding and lounge access?”
If the answer is no, a cardholder can call the issuer. A retention offer may include bonus points for hitting a spending threshold or a waived annual fee.
Mileage policies also matter. Delta, JetBlue, Southwest and United do not let miles expire, according to the site. American Airlines miles expire after 24 months of inactivity.
Alaska Airlines locks an account after 24 months of inactivity. A call to customer service can reactivate it.
Spending on a co-branded airline card counts as account activity for airlines like American. That can keep miles alive without a flight.
