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Flying can get expensive if you travel often or have multiple companions. Using a credit card with a discount on flight booking can help you save money effortlessly. Here are several to consider with point/mile redemption bonuses and annual travel credits.
Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.
Which Credit Cards Have Discounts on Flight Bookings?
Here’s a preview of the cards that can help with travel:
- Chase Sapphire Reserve®
- Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
- Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
- Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card
- United Quest℠ Card
- Delta Air Lines credit cards
- The Platinum Card® from American Express
- JetBlue Plus Card
- Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
- The Business Platinum® Card from American Express
Chase Sapphire Reserve
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® is the best credit card for flight booking discounts as each point is worth 50% more (1.5 cents) through Chase Travel℠. In comparison, most credit card points are only worth 1 cent.
This redemption bonus also applies to hotels, car rentals, cruises, and experiences. You can pay with a combination of points and cash too for extra flexibility.
Cardholders also receive their first $300 in travel purchases reimbursed each year whether booked directly through the carrier or with a third-party booking site. Additionally, the Sapphire Reserve has an impressive list of 1:1 airline transfer partners.
The annual fee is $550 is an excellent premium credit card for frequent flyers.
Related: Is The Chase Sapphire Reserve Worth It?
Chase Sapphire Preferred Card
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is a budget-friendly option with an affordable $95 annual fee. Your points are worth 25% more (1.25 cents) when booking award travel through Chase Travel℠. You can transfer to 1:1 point transfer partners, too.
Additionally, you receive the equivalent of 10% of the points you earn in a card membership year a card anniversary bonus. It’s not an upfront discount, but it can help you save on the first travel booking of your new membership year.
Related: Is The Chase Sapphire Preferred Still Worth It?
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is another competitive offering for those wanting a premium card. You can enjoy $300 in annual credits for Capital One Travel purchases. This booking site also has price prediction tools and price protection benefits that can provide partial refunds when qualifying flight prices drop after booking.
Cardholders also receive 10,000 bonus Capital One Miles every card anniversary, and you can redeem your points as a travel statement credit. You can also redeem your miles for upcoming travel to reduce your out-of-pocket travel costs.
Related: What Credit Score Do You Need for the Capital One Venture X?
Southwest Airlines Credit Cards
For our next best credit cards with a discount on flight bookings option, let’s look at a co-branded airline credit card. The Southwest Airlines Credit Cards offer a couple of ways to save on flight bookings and in-flight purchases in addition to the discount airline’s competitive pricing for cash and award flights.
One way is by earning the Companion Pass® by earning Rapid Rewards points through the co-brand credit card and other activities. Your signup bonus counts toward the annual points requirement.
Additionally, the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card provides an annual $75 Southwest travel credit. This card also provides 7,500 bonus points each anniversary, an annual 10,000 Companion Pass points boost, up to four Upgraded Bookings per year, and 25% back on in-flight purchases.
Related: How Much are 50,000 Southwest Points Worth? 7 Example Itineraries
United Quest Card
The United Quest℠ Card offers up to a $125 United® purchase credit and up to 10,000 miles in award flight credits each year – terms apply.
This card has a $250 annual fee and provides several MileagePlus and United travel benefits that help loyal flyers prosper.
Related: The Best United Airlines Credit Cards
Delta Air Lines Credit Cards
Delta Air Lines credit cards with an annual fee offer 15% off award flights booked through Delta.com or the airline’s mobile app. Eligible cardholders can use code TakeOff15 to secure the flight booking discount.
The carrier offers several co-brand credit cards with different benefit tiers and annual fees that can help you save in multiple ways including free checked bags, flight savings, and discounted or complimentary airport lounge access.
Related: The Amex Delta Credit Cards Now Offer An Award Travel Discount
The Platinum Card From American Express
The Platinum Card® from American Express offers competitive fares for overseas flights through its International Airline Program. You can save on up to eight tickets per itinerary. Private jet flights can also be eligible for discounts.
When you want to earn airline miles quickly, the Amex Platinum is excellent. You can earn 5x Membership Rewards when booking flights directly from the airline or through American Express Travel (on up to $500,000 in purchases yearly).
This luxury card also reimburses up to $200 in incidental airline fees for one carrier of choice. There are many other travel and lifestyle credits available, including free airport lounge access.
But, the Amex Platinum has a high annual fee of $695 (See Rates & Fees).
Related: How Hard Is It To Get The American Express Platinum Card?
JetBlue Plus Card
The information for the JetBlue Plus Card has been collected independently by Johnny Jet. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
The JetBlue Plus Card provides an annual $100 statement credit on a JetBlue Vacations purchase. You also receive back 10% of your TrueBlue points on award flight redemptions.
This card also provides 50% savings on in-flight savings, can help you reach Mosaic status sooner, plus the ability to receive 5,000 bonus points on each account anniversary.
Related: The Best Credit Cards for Purchasing Flight Tickets
Ink Business Preferred Credit Card
Let’s look at a business card for the best credit cards with a discount on flight bookings option. Business travelers can enjoy a 25% travel redemption bonus through Chase Travel℠ with the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card. Each point is worth 1.25 cents for award travel, and you can access the Chase 1:1 airline transfer partners too.
This card has a $95 annual fee and is the best Chase business credit card for travel.
Related: Ink Business Preferred Review
The Business Platinum Card from American Express
Upscale business travelers can benefit from The Business Platinum® Card from American Express, which gives back 35% of your points back (up to 1 million back per calendar year) on qualifying award flights.
It’s not an upfront discount, although you save on your next redemption. Additionally, each point is effectively worth 1.35 cents through amextravel.com.
Cardholders can also enjoy an annual $200 airline fee credit, up to $189 in CLEAR Plus credits, and discounts in the Wheels Up private jet program. However, the annual fee is $695 (See Rates & Fees).
Related: Is Amex Business Platinum Worth It?
Summary
In conclusion, the best credit cards with a discount on flight bookings also have plenty of flight perks. The best travel credit cards typically offer redemption bonuses, travel credits, or 1:1 point transfers that help you book flights with fewer points or dollars. Flexible travel rewards cards usually let you use your benefits for multiple carriers. However, a co-branded airline credit card can be worth it to get annual flight discounts and the ability to save on each flight with in-flight savings and free checked bags.
Related Articles:
- Chase Ultimate Rewards Points Review
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- The Chase Ink Business Preferred vs AMEX Business Gold
For rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express, please click here.
For rates and fees of The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, please click here.
Johnny Jet has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. Johnny Jet and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers.
