To Secure Complimentary Checked Bags and Extras, is Using an Airline's Own Credit Card Necessary?
In the world of travel, airline credit cards can offer a host of benefits to frequent flyers. Here, we delve into some of the top airline credit cards in North America, their perks, and the booking requirements for these benefits.
Booking Requirements
To benefit from travel insurance and other perks, flights typically need to be booked using the credit card. This ensures that you are eligible for benefits like trip cancellation insurance, travel delay insurance, and lost luggage coverage.
Airline-specific Benefits
Some cards, like the Allways Rewards Visa from Allegiant, offer benefits like priority check-in and boarding when flying with the airline. However, these benefits don't necessarily require the flight to be paid with the card, as they are more about loyalty perks than insurance coverage.
Specific Airline Credit Cards
Air Canada
The Aeroplan Credit Card from Air Canada offers 3x points per $1 on Air Canada flights and a free first checked bag for the cardholder and up to 8 travel companions on the same reservation. The booking requirement for this card is not explicitly stated, but it's common practice that most benefits are tied to the card's usage as a payment method for the trip.
United Airlines
The New United ClubSM Card offers Complimentary United Club membership, Premier Access for cardmember and any traveling companions, First and second checked bags free for cardmember and 1 traveling companion, and 25% back on United inflight purchases. However, payment for the ticket with the United Club card is required for the free checked baggage and inflight purchases perks.
Hawaiian Airlines
The Hawaiian Airlines World Elite Mastercard offers 3x miles per $1 on Hawaiian Airlines purchases, 2x miles per $1 on gas, dining, and grocery store purchases, and 2 free checked bags on Hawaiian Airlines-operated flights and Alaska Airlines-operated flights for the primary cardholder. Payment with the card is required for these perks.
JetBlue
When flying with JetBlue, payment with the card is required to receive the free checked bag or inflight savings perks. The JetBlue Card, JetBlue Plus Card, and JetBlue Business Card offer 50% inflight savings on cocktails and food purchases, and a free first checked bag for the cardholder and up to 3 companions on the same reservation.
Delta Airlines
The Delta SkyMiles Platinum Business American Express Card offers first checked bag free for the cardholder and up to 8 travel companions, zone 5 priority boarding on Delta flights for the cardholder and up to 8 travel companions, 20% savings on inflight purchases with Delta, and requires the card to be attached to the Delta SkyMiles account.
Similarly, the Delta SkyMiles Gold Business American Express Card offers the same benefits, but with the card attached to the Delta SkyMiles account. The Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card offers similar benefits, but requires the card to be attached to the Delta SkyMiles number in order to receive the benefits.
Southwest Airlines
The Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card offers 4 Upgraded Boardings per year when available, 25% back on inflight drinks and Wi-Fi, $75 annual Southwest travel credit, and 1 free checked bag (for up to 8 companions on the reservation), but requires payment with the card for these benefits.
The Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business Credit Card offers similar benefits, but with 365 $8 inflight Wi-Fi credits per year instead of the travel credit.
Spirit Airlines
The Spirit Airlines Free Spirit Travel More World Elite Mastercard offers Zone 2 Shortcut Boarding on all flights, access to Points Pooling, a $100 Companion Flight Voucher each anniversary after making at least $5,000 in purchases within the prior year, and a 25% rebate on all inflight food and beverage purchases when you pay with your card, but requires payment with the card or showing the card to the gate agent for priority boarding and inflight rebate.
American Airlines
The Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard offers 4x miles per $1 on purchases with American Airlines, first checked bag free on domestic American Airlines itineraries for the cardholder and up to 8 travel companions, preferred boarding on American Airlines flights, 25% savings on inflight food and beverage purchases on American Airlines flights, priority check-in and priority airport screening (where available) for the cardholder and up to 8 travel companions, Admirals Club membership, and requires the credit card account to be open 7 days prior to air travel, the reservation to include the American Airlines AAdvantage number 7 days prior to air travel, and the card to be presented upon entry and travel with American Airlines, a Oneworld partner, or Alaska Airlines.
The Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select World EliteTM Mastercard offers 2x miles per $1 on purchases with American Airlines, restaurants, and gas stations, first checked bag free on domestic American Airlines itineraries for the cardholder and up to 4 travel companions, preferred boarding on American Airlines flights, 25% savings on inflight food and beverage purchases on American Airlines flights, and requires the credit card account to be open 7 days prior to air travel and the reservation to include the American Airlines AAdvantage number 7 days prior to air travel.
Other Airlines
When flying with Hawaiian Airlines, JetBlue, or United Airlines, payment with the card is required to receive the free checked bag or inflight savings perks. When flying with elite status, free baggage or other benefits may not apply if the elite status already offers a free checked bag.
When booking on an ineligible website, free baggage or other benefits may not apply. When traveling as an authorized user, free baggage or other benefits may not apply, unless traveling on the same reservation with the primary cardholder. When booking award tickets, free baggage or other benefits may not apply, unless the card does not require payment with the card to receive the benefits.
When flying with airline partners or codeshares, free baggage or other benefits may not apply, unless otherwise stated. In some cases, like the New United ClubSM Business Card and the Allegiant World Mastercard, the benefits do not require payment with the card.
- In the context of travel, paying with some airline credit cards, like the Aeroplan Credit Card from Air Canada, ensures eligibility for benefits like travel delay insurance and trip cancellation insurance, provided the flights are booked using the card.
- To enjoy the perks of lifestyle, such as dining and grocery rewards with the Hawaiian Airlines World Elite Mastercard, it's essential to make payments with the card, which will net you double miles on those purchases and two free checked bags.
- For business travelers, utilizing the Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard from American Airlines can provide numerous benefits, but it's crucial to meet certain requirements: the card must be open 7 days prior to air travel, the reservation needs to include the American Airlines AAdvantage number 7 days prior to air travel, and the card must be presented upon entry and travel with American Airlines, a Oneworld partner, or Alaska Airlines.
