Best cards at Lufthansa
Discover it Cash Back earns the most at Lufthansa right now at 5%.
Rankings use issuer rates verified as of August 16, 2026.
#15%5%Discover it Cash Back
Discover · Discover · No annual fee · up to $1,500/qtr (combined) · Lower rate after the cap
#25x5xThe Platinum Card from American Express
American Express · Amex · $895/yr · up to $500,000/yr · Lower rate after the cap
#34x4xU.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card
U.S. Bank · Visa · No annual fee
#44x4xU.S. Bank Business Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card
U.S. Bank · Visa · Business · $95/yr · up to $150,000/yr (combined) · Lower rate after the cap
#54x4xWells Fargo Autograph Journey Visa Card
Wells Fargo · Visa · $95/yr
#64x4xChase Sapphire Reserve
Chase · Visa · $795/yr
#73%3%AAA Travel Advantage Visa Signature Card
Bread Financial · Visa · No annual fee
#83%3%Costco Anywhere Visa Card by Citi
Citi · Visa · No annual fee
#93%3%Costco Anywhere Visa Business Card by Citi
Citi · Visa · Business · No annual fee
#103x3xHuntington Voice Rewards Credit Card
Huntington · Mastercard · No annual fee · Choose this category · up to $2,000/qtr (combined)
Good to know at Lufthansa
Lufthansa doesn't restrict which card networks it accepts in our data, so the question is purely which card in your wallet earns the most on airfare. There is no Lufthansa store card in this ranking; the top spots go to general travel cards, led by The Platinum Card from American Express at 5x, with a spending cap and a lower rate once you pass it.
The ranking is the same whether you book on Lufthansa's site or pay in person, so there is no channel game to play. The pattern to watch is caps: both 5-percent-level options carry them. The Platinum Card from American Express caps its 5x, and Discover it Cash Back requires quarterly activation and shares a combined cap. Chase Sapphire Reserve earns 4x with no caveats in our data, so for heavy flyers, uncapped 4x can beat capped 5x.
Two of the top three carry big fees, $895 a year for The Platinum Card from American Express and $795 for Chase Sapphire Reserve, so they only pay off if the card earns its keep. If neither is in your wallet, the no-fee floor is solid: Wells Fargo Autograph Card earns 3x and Costco Anywhere Visa Card by Citi pays 3%. A multiplier isn't a cent: Wyndham Rewards Earner Plus Card advertises 4x, but we value it near 2.8%.
The math
Spend $250 a month at Lufthansa and Discover it Cash Back returns about $150 a year at our valuations — a flat 2% card returns $60.
Common questions
- What is the best credit card at Lufthansa?
- Discover it Cash Back earns the most at Lufthansa right now at 5%.
- How does SwipeCaddy pick the best card at Lufthansa?
- We rank each card by its reward rate times a conservative cash value of its points or miles — no inflated transfer valuations — and apply Lufthansa's card-acceptance rules, so the "best" card is one you can actually use at the register.
- Do the top cards for Lufthansa flights have spending caps?
- The two highest earners do. The Platinum Card from American Express pays 5x up to a spending cap, then a lower rate; Discover it Cash Back pays 5% only after quarterly activation and shares a combined cap. Chase Sapphire Reserve's 4x carries no caveats in our data, so frequent Lufthansa flyers with big airfare totals may come out ahead there.
- Can a no-annual-fee card keep up on Lufthansa airfare?
- Yes, within limits. Discover it Cash Back reaches 5%, the same cash-equivalent rate as the leader, but only with quarterly activation and a combined cap. For steady, no-maintenance earning, Wells Fargo Autograph Card pays 3x and Costco Anywhere Visa Card by Citi pays 3%, both with no annual fee. If you fly Lufthansa occasionally, that is usually plenty.
Rates reflect each card's best case at this merchant and can change; check the issuer's terms before applying.