Best Chase Airline Credit Cards

By Daria Uhlig

October 19, 2021

jacoblund / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Airline credit card rewards make flying less expensive and more convenient. As America’s largest bank, Chase has plenty of airline cards to choose from, and it offers its best in partnership with United or Southwest airlines. You can use any of the cards included in this roundup for all your travel — without paying foreign transaction fees. However, you’ll earn the best rewards on travel and purchases made with the airline named on the card.

5 Best Chase Credit Cards for Airline Travel

Here’s a handy guide to help you learn more about the features of the best Chase credit cards for air travel.

Chase United Quest Card

Best for: Overall Value

The number one card on this list gives you three miles per dollar spent on United Airlines, plus 25% back on inflight purchases. Add an 80,000-mile new cardmember bonus and anniversary mile credits, and the savings add up.

Pros

• Generous three miles earned per dollar on United purchases
• Several ways to earn cash back
• Generous 80,000 bonus-mile offer plus anniversary flight credits
• Can earn up to 3,000 Premier qualifying points per year
• Use of United Club
• Money-saving travel benefits
• One year DoorDash DashPass

Cons

• Steep $250 annual fee
• High purchase requirement to earn bonus miles

Who would benefit from this card? Frequent flyers who expect a lot of perks from their card.

Chase United Explorer Card

Best for: Low-Cost, Generous Perks

The United Explorer card from Chase is a good choice for those who don’t travel enough to justify a $295 annual fee but still need a robust reward and bonus program.

Pros

• Earn two miles per dollar on United purchases, two miles per dollar on dining and hotel stays booked with the card and one mile per dollar on all other purchases
• Two ways to earn cash back
• Generous bonus mile offer
• Can earn up to up to 1,000 Premier qualifying points per calendar year
• Money-saving travel benefits
• One year DoorDash DashPass
• $0 introductory annual fee in the first year

Cons

• $95 annual fee after the first year

Who would benefit from this card? Those who’d like to earn rewards when using the card but don’t travel as often.

Chase United Club Infinite Card

Best for: Luxury Travel Benefits

Although the Chase United Club Infinite card’s annual fee is high at $525 per year, the free United Club membership alone more than makes up for it.

Pros

• Earn four miles per dollar on United purchases, two miles per dollar on other travel and dining, and one mile per dollar for all other purchases
• Generous bonus mile reward offer
• High Premier qualifying point eligibility
• Free United Club membership worth up to $650 per year
• Valuable travel benefits
• Premier Access travel services where available
• One year DoorDash DashPass

Cons

• Steep $525 annual fee
• Fewer bonus miles than with Chase United Quest card

Who would benefit from this card? Current United Club members and travelers who plan to join.

Chase United Gateway Card

Best for: Everyday Use

The Chase United Gateway card could be the right choice for travelers who don’t travel as frequently but need a solid airline rewards card that doesn’t make you jump through hoops to get rewards.

Pros

• Earn two miles per dollar on United purchases, two miles per dollar spent at gas stations, local transit and commuting, and one mile per dollar on all other purchases
• Earn cash back on United purchases
• Miles bonus offer also gives three miles per dollar on grocery store purchases
• One year DoorDash DashPass
• No annual fee

Cons

• Fewer perks than other cards

Who would benefit from this card? Casual travelers.

Chase Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card

Best for: Budget Travelers

The Chase Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority card helps you accumulate bonus miles and points quickly.

Pros

• Earn two points per dollar on Southwest Airlines purchases and one point per dollar for all other purchases
• Solid, easy-to-earn bonus point offer plus promotional three points per dollar on dining for the first 12 months
• $75 yearly travel credit on Southwest Airlines
• Opportunity for upgraded boardings, as much as 4 per year, depending on availability
• Anniversary points

Cons

• $149 annual fee

Who would benefit from this card? Budget travelers who already fly Southwest

Which Is the Best Chase Airline Card for Me?

If you’re shopping for an airline card, the first thing to consider is which airline you’ll fly most. From there, selecting the right card is a matter of comparing the benefits against the annual fees to find the card that provides the most value on flights to the destinations you want to visit.

Methodology: GOBankingRates identified the best airline credit cards by analyzing the following factors: (1) rewards earn rate; (2) any foreign transaction fees; (3) annual fees; (4) regular APR for purchases; (5) sign-up bonuses; (6) total airline destinations; (7) total number of enplaned passengers in 2019; and (8) miscellaneous travel benefits. Miscellaneous travel benefits include free checked bags, access to airport lounges, priority boarding, any flight discounts, discounted companion fares, and TSA PreCheck access. All fees and rates are subject to change at the credit card issuers’ discretion. Some offers might no longer be available on the credit card issuers’ websites, depending on how you access the webpage. Data was sourced from each financial institution’s or airline’s website or promotional material between Aug. 2, 2021, and Sept. 27, 2021. Please verify terms and conditions before opening an account.

About the Author

Daria Uhlig

Daria Uhlig is a personal finance, real estate and travel writer and editor with over 25 years of editorial experience. Her work has been featured on The Motley Fool, MSN, AOL, Yahoo! Finance, CNBC and USA Today. Daria studied journalism at the County College of Morris and earned a degree in communications at Centenary University, both in New Jersey.