What is the best credit card for flights?

Chase Sapphire Reserve leads with 8x (book via chase travel).

How does SwipeCaddy pick the best flights card?

We rank each card by its reward rate times a conservative cash value of its points or miles — no inflated transfer valuations — and surface the fine print so the "best" rate is one you can actually get.

Best cards for flights

Airfare / airline tickets booked direct.

1
#18x
Chase Sapphire Reserve
Chase · Visa · Book via Chase Travel
8x
2
#25x
The Business Platinum Card from American Express
American Express · Amex · Via the travel portal
5x
3
#35x
The Platinum Card from American Express
American Express · Amex · Spending cap applies · Lower rate after the cap
5x
4
#45x
Venture X Business
Capital One · Visa · Book via Capital One Business Travel
5x
5
#55x
Venture X Rewards
Capital One · Visa · Book via Capital One Travel
5x
6
#65%
Prime Visa
Chase · Visa · Membership required · Book via Chase Travel
5%
7
#75x
Chase Sapphire Preferred
Chase · Visa · Book via Chase Travel
5x
8
#85%
Discover it Cash Back
Discover · Discover · Activate each quarter · Cap (combined) · Lower rate after the cap
5%
9
#95%
Prime Business Card
U.S. Bank · Mastercard · Requires Amazon Prime · Book via U.S. Bank Travel Center
5%
10
#103%
Costco Anywhere Visa Card by Citi
Citi · Visa
3%
11
#113%
Costco Anywhere Visa Business Card by Citi
Citi · Visa
3%
12
#123x
Citi Strata Premier Card
Citi · Mastercard
3x

Common questions

What is the best credit card for flights?: Chase Sapphire Reserve leads with 8x (book via chase travel).
How does SwipeCaddy pick the best flights card?: We rank each card by its reward rate times a conservative cash value of its points or miles — no inflated transfer valuations — and surface the fine print so the "best" rate is one you can actually get.

Rankings reflect published earn rates and a conservative valuation of each rewards currency. SwipeCaddy earns no affiliate commission.