Are you looking for an airline credit card but not ready to pay a high annual fee? There are solid options for $150 or less. These cobranded cards sit between no-annual-fee basics and high-fee premium cards, offering useful travel perks like free checked bags, priority boarding, inflight discounts and annual credits. Below are five top picks and concise details to help you choose.
Top picks
– Atmos™ Rewards Ascent Visa Signature® credit card
– Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®
– Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card
– JetBlue Plus Card
– United℠ Explorer Card
Quick comparison (high-level)
– Atmos Rewards Ascent: Annual fee $95. Welcome: 80,000 points + $99 Companion Fare after $4,000 in 120 days. Earn 3x on Alaska/Hawaiian, 2x on eligible gas/EV charging/cable/streaming/local transit, 1x others. Notable benefits: strong companion fare, inflight discounts, Alaska Lounge+ discount, free checked bag and preferred boarding on Alaska and Hawaiian.
– Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select: $0 intro year, $99 after. Welcome: 50,000 miles after $2,500 in 3 months. Earn 2x at restaurants, gas stations and eligible American Airlines purchases; 1x others. Benefits: first checked bag free for you and up to four companions, preferred boarding, no foreign transaction fees.
– Delta SkyMiles Gold Amex: $0 intro year, then $150. Welcome: offers vary (possible up to 80,000 miles after $2,000 in 6 months). Earn 2x on Delta, dining worldwide and U.S. supermarkets; 1x others. Benefits: up to $100 Delta Stays credit, first checked bag free for cardholder and companions, priority boarding, savings on award redemptions, no foreign transaction fees.
– JetBlue Plus: $99. Welcome: 70,000 points after $1,000 spend and paying the annual fee within 90 days. Earn 6x on JetBlue purchases, 2x at restaurants and eligible grocery stores, 1x others. Benefits: anniversary bonus points, progress toward Mosaic status with spending, first checked bag free, inflight savings, $100 JetBlue Vacations statement credit, no foreign transaction fees.
– United Explorer: $0 intro year, then $150. Welcome: up to 80,000 miles (70k after $3,000 in 3 months + 10k for adding an authorized user). Earn at least 9x on United flights (varies with fare/elite status), 3x on other United purchases, 2x on hotels and dining, 1x others. Benefits: award mileage discount, first checked bag free for cardholder and one companion, Global Entry/TSA PreCheck/NEXUS credit, two one-time United Club passes per anniversary, inflight discount and various statement credits.
Card details
Atmos Rewards Ascent
– Annual fee: $95
– Welcome bonus: Earn 80,000 bonus points and a $99 Companion Fare (plus taxes/fees from $23) after spending $4,000 in the first 120 days. Plus a 50% flight discount code after account opening.
– Earning: 3x on Alaska and Hawaiian purchases; 2x on eligible gas, EV charging, cable/streaming and local transit (including ride-hailing); 1x on other purchases.
– Benefits: Annual Companion Fare after meeting anniversary spend requirement ($6,000 prior anniversary year for an additional companion fare benefit), inflight discounts, Alaska Lounge+ discount, free first checked bag and preferred boarding on Alaska and Hawaiian.
– Why consider it: Best for travelers who value a companion fare and Alaska/Hawaiian route perks.
Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select
– Annual fee: $0 intro year, then $99
– Welcome bonus: 50,000 AAdvantage miles after $2,500 in purchases in the first three months.
– Earning: 2x miles at restaurants, gas stations and on eligible American Airlines purchases; 1x other purchases.
– Benefits: First checked bag free for cardholder and up to four companions on domestic AA flights, preferred boarding, inflight discounts, no foreign transaction fees.
– Why consider it: Strong, low-cost option for American Airlines loyalists who want basic travel perks and a solid welcome bonus.
Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express
– Annual fee: $0 intro year, then $150
– Welcome bonus: Offers vary; some targeted offers reach as high as 80,000 miles after $2,000 in six months. Check eligibility.
– Earning: 2x miles on Delta purchases, dining worldwide and U.S. supermarkets; 1x other purchases.
– Benefits: $100 Delta Stays annual statement credit, first checked bag free for cardholder and up to eight companions, Zone 5 priority boarding, 15% savings on award redemptions, no foreign transaction fees.
– Why consider it: Good mid-tier Delta card for occasional Delta flyers who want checked bag and boarding perks plus potential annual travel credits.
JetBlue Plus
– Annual fee: $99
– Welcome bonus: 70,000 bonus points after $1,000 in purchases and paying the annual fee in the first 90 days.
– Earning: 6x on JetBlue purchases, 2x at restaurants and eligible grocery stores, 1x on other purchases.
– Benefits: Anniversary bonus points, earn toward Mosaic elite status with purchases, first checked bag free, inflight savings, $100 JetBlue Vacations credit, no foreign transaction fees.
– Why consider it: Best for frequent JetBlue flyers or those near JetBlue hubs seeking strong earning on carrier spend and useful travel credits.
United Explorer Card
– Annual fee: $0 intro year, then $150
– Welcome bonus: Up to 80,000 miles — 70,000 after $3,000 in three months, plus 10,000 after adding an authorized user in three months.
– Earning: At least 9x on United flights (varies by fare class and elite status), 3x on other eligible United purchases, 2x on hotels booked direct and dining, 1x on other purchases.
– Benefits: First checked bag free for cardholder and one companion, award mileage discount, Global Entry/TSA PreCheck/NEXUS credit, two one-time United Club passes per anniversary, inflight discounts and multiple statement credits for eligible purchases.
– Why consider it: Well-rounded United-branded card with travel credits and perks that offset the fee for semi-frequent United travelers.
Bottom line
An airline card priced at $150 or less can deliver clear, easy-to-use benefits like free checked bags, priority boarding and annual credits. These cards suit semifrequent flyers or beginners in points and miles who want useful travel perks without a high annual cost. Compare welcome offers, earning structures and which airline’s network you use most to pick the best fit for your travel patterns.
