Airline credit cards are not created equally, especially if you travel with a family. In a perfect world, traveling families would want an airline credit card that provides perks (such as waived bag fees) that will work for the whole crew, have built-in money saving perks and the ability to earn award miles that are easy to use for family vacations. Thanks to transferrable points programs, such as Chase Ultimate Rewards and Amex Membership Rewards, long gone are the days when earning 1 mile per dollar on an airline credit card is the only option to get closer to an airline award redemption. These days, competition is fierce, and an airline credit card needs to offer tangible benefits and savings to make it into my wallet.
With the needs of a family and valuable wallet real estate in mind, here are six of the best airline credit cards for families.
In This Post
1. Southwest Rapid Rewards Credit Cards
Far and away, the most popular airline credit cards for families (according to the TPG Family Facebook Group) are the Southwest Airlines cobranded credit cards. Not only are the Rapid Rewards points awarded by the cards insanely simple to use, but the sign-up bonus points awarded count toward earning the valuable Companion Pass that allows you to bring a family member (or friend) on Southwest flights for just the cost of taxes.
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card
Current Bonus: All three Southwest personal credit cards are offering a bonus of 40,000 Rapid Rewards points after spending $1,000 on the card in the first three months of account opening.
The Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Business Credit Card has a different bonus of 60,000 points when you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first three months. If you got bonuses from both the personal and small business card in the same calendar year you would be very close to the 110,000 points needed to earn the Companion Pass.
Current Bonus Value: $600 for the bonus points on the personal cards, $900 for the small business card’s bonus; based on TPG’s latest valuations
Standout Benefits: The Southwest Priority Credit Card offers the most perks for families of all the cards, including 7,500 bonus Rapid Rewards points at each account anniversary (worth $112.50 by TPG calculations), a $75 annual Southwest travel credit, 20% back on in-flight drinks, Wi-Fi, messaging and movies and four Upgraded Boardings in the A1–A15 position each year (worth up to $50 each).
Annual Fee: varies per card
Why It’s Worth It: Southwest Airlines is the winner of TPG’s Best Airline for Families study, in large part because its Rapid Rewards program is extremely straight-forward for families to use. You can simply log on to southwest.com, easily spot the cheapest dates to fly using your Rapid Rewards points using the calendar view and secure the award flights you need. If your plans change, you can redeposit your award without penalty, making the points earned by the Southwest credit cards extremely useful for families. Read the full card review here.
2. Platinum Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card from American Express
Delta has a host of credit cards, but there’s one or two that jump out as being tops for families who fly Delta. My two favorite Delta cards are the entry-level Gold Delta SkyMiles Card that has a lower annual fee and an increased welcome bonus of 60k miles and the Platinum Delta SkyMiles Card that has an ever higher welcome bonus of 75k and awards an annual companion flight certificate, albeit at a higher annual fee price point.
Current Bonus:
- Gold Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card from American Express: 60,000 bonus miles after $2,000 in purchases in the first three months and a $50 statement credit on a Delta purchase made in the first three months.
- Platinum Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card from American Express: 75,000 bonus miles and 5,000 Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) after $3,000 in purchases in the first three months, plus a $100 statement credit for making a Delta purchase in the first three months.
Both increased offers are scheduled to end on April 3, 2019.
Current Bonus Value: 60,000 bonus Delta SkyMiles miles are worth $720 and 75,000 bonus SkyMiles are worth $900 according to current TPG calculations — and there are lots of ways for families to use those miles.
Standout Benefits: Both of these Delta cards offer priority boarding and a first checked bag free for you and up to eight companions on the same reservation. Many airline cards don’t provides benefits for that many additional travelers. The cards also provide a 20% savings in the form of a statement credit on eligible Delta in-flight purchases like food and beverages.
Annual Fee: $95 for Gold Delta SkyMiles Card ($0 intro fee the first year) (See Rates & Fees) and $195 for the Platinum Delta SkyMiles Card (See Rates & Fees)
Why It’s Worth It: The increased welcome bonuses are reason enough to pay attention to these cards as the Delta SkyMiles program frequently runs specials where families can really stretch their miles. However, the Platinum card especially gets my attention because of the annual Companion Certificate that allows you to bring a friend of family member on eligible Delta-operated flights virtually for free. Here are details on when and how to use that certificate, but as long as you are redeeming the certificate for a domestic flight that costs more than $195, it gets pretty easy to justify the annual fee. If you are still deciding between the cards, here is some additional advice.
3. JetBlue Plus Card
Current Bonus: Earn 40,000 points after spending $1,000 in the first 90 days.
Current Bonus Value: $520
Standout Benefits: You’ll get 6 points spent on purchases with JetBlue; 2 points at restaurant and grocery stores; and 1 point per dollar on everything else. As a card holder, you’ll get 10% of your redeemed JetBlue points back with no cap and get a free checked bag for you and up to three companions on the same reservation. You can also save 50% on eligible in-flight purchases like cocktails and food on JetBlue-operated flights.
Annual Fee: $99
Why It’s Worth It: The JetBlue TrueBlue program is pretty unique in that it permits family members to pool their miles together in order to earn award flights faster. The onboard JetBlue experience is top-notch for families, with complimentary assigned seats, the most economy legroom among US airlines, a free snack basket and both free DirecTV and free gate-to-gate Wi-Fi for all passengers.
Families that want to take advantage of JetBlue’s family-friendly programs and policies will benefit from having a JetBlue Plus credit card, both for the points it earns and for the savings it can provide on JetBlue award flights, bag fees and onboard purchases. You can also earn JetBlue Mosaic elite status for one year if you spend $50,000 or more on the card annually. Read the full card review here.
4. United Credit Cards
If your family flies on a United flight even just once or twice a year, you probably want to have a United credit card in your wallet — here’s why.
Current Bonus:
- United Explorer Card: 40,000 bonus miles after spending $2,000 in the first three months.
- United Explorer Business Card: Limited-time offer of 75,000 bonus miles after $5,000 spent within the first three months runs until March 18, 2019.
Current Bonus Value: Based on our current valuations, if you earn the full bonus of 75,000 miles on the small business card, your sign-up bonus will be worth $1,050. The 40,000-mile bonus on the personal card is worth $560.
Standout Benefits: Those with United elite status, or even just a simple United credit card, are given access to extra United saver award inventory that non-card holders simply don’t have access to booking. These days, you need to either earn United elite status, get a cobranded credit card or expect to frequently spend additional miles to book simple award flights.
Annual Fee: $0 intro annual fee the first year, then $95
Why It’s Worth It: The United Explorer cards provide primary cardholders and one other on the reservation a first free checked bag on United-operated flights and priority boarding (must use card to pay for the tickets). This can also help when flying on Basic Economy fares as card holders can also bring a full-sized carry-on, even on Basic Economy tickets.
The United Explorer cards also provide 25% back on onboard purchases of food, beverages and Wi-Fi when swiped on United flights, along with two annual United Club day passes. But — what makes a United card a must for families is that card holders is the access to expanded saver award availability. This makes your United miles more valuable as you can sometimes find award flights for fewer miles than if you don’t have a card or United elite status. The only reason that the United cards aren’t higher on the list is that some of its perks don’t extend to the whole family on the reservation and saver award availability can be tight during school breaks, even with the card.
5. Alaska Airlines Visa Signature credit card
Current Bonus: Earn 40,000 bonus miles and Alaska’s Companion Fare certificate (from $121) with $2,000 or more spent in the first 90 days
Current Bonus Value: $720
Standout Benefits: You’ll earn 3 miles per dollar on Alaska Airlines purchases, 1 mile per dollar elsewhere. Card holders get a free checked bag on Alaska-operated flights for themselves and up to six others on the reservation. I particularly love the Companion Fare certificate that comes with this bonus and at each card renewal. The companion certificate allows you to bring a friend or family member on a round-trip Alaska-operated flight in economy for $99 plus taxes and fees — which can be a great strategy to get two people to Hawaii!
Annual Fee: $75
Why It’s Worth It: TPG values Alaska miles the highest of any individual type of airline mile at 1.8 cents each, making this bonus worth a solid $720. You can potentially get even more value out if it though if you redeem these miles for flights on one of Alaska’s partner airlines, such as Cathay Pacific. A one-way business class award from the US to Asia with a free stopover in Hong Kong (HKG) only costs 50,000 Alaska miles, though these tickets often sell for several thousand dollars.
However, it isn’t just high-end redemptions that are worth it on Alaska. You can also book shorter hops starting at just 5,000 miles, making Alaska miles useful for all types of family travelers. The annual Companion Fare is also pivotal in making some cash trips affordable — both parents could get an Alaska card and use the Companion Fares to bring two kids along on vacation from just $121 each!
6. Frontier Airlines World Mastercard
Current Bonus: Earn 40,000 bonus miles after $500 spent in the first 90 days
Current Bonus Value: $440
Standout Benefits: You’ll get 5 miles per dollar on Frontier Airlines purchases, 3 miles at restaurants and 1 mile per dollar elsewhere. Card holders earn a $100 discount voucher with $2,500 or more in purchases charged to the card during each card member year. Card holders can also unlock family pooling of miles and can spend their way to Frontier elite status. Frontier elite status can unlock free seat assignments, bags and more — valid for the entire traveling family.
Annual Fee: $79
Why It’s Worth It: This cobranded card for an ultra low-cost carrier won’t be the right fit for all families, but if your family likes to fly as inexpensively as possible, and Frontier’s route network works for you, then it’s a card to consider. Not only does Frontier offers “kids fly free” to Discount Den members on select dates, but the ability to pool miles among family members for card holders and being able to spend your way to elite status makes this card an interesting value for the right families.
Bottom Line
The best airline credit card for your family will depend on your travel patterns and needs (and how big the welcome bonuses are when you are ready to apply). Truth be told, I don’t put a ton of our everyday spending on my airline credit cards (other than my United Club Card), but I hold on to them for some built-in perks that help us save money and enjoy a more comfortable in-flight experience. This is especially true on airlines where we don’t otherwise have elite status, such as Delta.
Now that you know our favorites, we’d love to hear about which airline credit card(s) make sense for your family.
For rates and fees of the Platinum Delta SkyMiles Card, please click here.
For rates and fees of the Gold Delta SkyMiles Card, please click here.
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