If you want airline perks without a steep annual charge, several cobranded cards cost $150 or less and still deliver real value. These mid-tier cards sit between no-fee options and premium cards, offering benefits like free checked bags, priority boarding, inflight discounts and annual credits. Below are five strong choices and condensed details to help you decide.
Top picks
– Atmos Rewards Ascent Visa Signature
– 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 — $95 annual fee. Welcome: 80,000 points plus a $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 on others. Perks: strong companion fare, inflight discounts, Alaska Lounge+ savings, free checked bag and preferred boarding on Alaska and Hawaiian flights.
– Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select — $0 first year, then $99. Welcome: 50,000 miles after $2,500 in 3 months. Earn 2x at restaurants, gas and eligible American Airlines purchases; 1x elsewhere. Perks: first checked bag free for you and up to four companions, preferred boarding, no foreign transaction fees.
– Delta SkyMiles Gold Amex — $0 first year, then $150. Welcome: offers vary (some up to 80,000 miles after $2,000 in 6 months). Earn 2x on Delta, dining worldwide and U.S. supermarkets; 1x on other purchases. Perks: 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 annual fee. 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 on other purchases. Perks: anniversary bonus points, progress toward Mosaic status via spending, first checked bag free, inflight savings, $100 JetBlue Vacations statement credit, no foreign transaction fees.
– United Explorer — $0 first year, then $150. Welcome: up to 80,000 miles (70k after $3,000 in 3 months + 10k for adding an authorized user). Earn high multipliers on United flight purchases, 3x on other United purchases, 2x on hotels and dining, 1x on other purchases. Perks: first checked bag free for cardholder and one companion, award mileage discount, Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit, two United Club one-time passes per year, inflight discounts and statement credits.
Card details
Atmos Rewards Ascent
– Annual fee: $95
– Welcome: 80,000 bonus points + $99 Companion Fare (taxes/fees from $23) after $4,000 in 120 days; additional 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: recurring Companion Fare with anniversary spend thresholds, inflight discounts, Alaska Lounge+ discount, free first checked bag and preferred boarding on Alaska and Hawaiian flights.
– Who it’s for: Travelers who fly Alaska or Hawaiian often and value a strong companion fare.
Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select
– Annual fee: $0 first year, then $99
– Welcome: 50,000 AAdvantage miles after $2,500 in the first three months.
– Earning: 2x at restaurants, gas stations and eligible American Airlines purchases; 1x elsewhere.
– Benefits: First checked bag free for cardholder and up to four companions on domestic AA flights, preferred boarding, inflight discounts, no foreign transaction fees.
– Who it’s for: American Airlines loyalists who want core travel benefits at a low annual cost.
Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express
– Annual fee: $0 first year, then $150
– Welcome: Offers vary; targeted promotions sometimes reach up to 80,000 miles after $2,000 in six months. Check current offers.
– Earning: 2x on Delta purchases, dining worldwide and U.S. supermarkets; 1x on other purchases.
– Benefits: Up to $100 Delta Stays credit, first checked bag free for cardholder and eligible companions, Zone 5 priority boarding, 15% savings on award redemptions, no foreign transaction fees.
– Who it’s for: Occasional Delta flyers who want checked-bag and boarding perks plus potential travel credits.
JetBlue Plus
– Annual fee: $99
– Welcome: 70,000 bonus points after $1,000 in purchases and paying the annual fee within 90 days.
– Earning: 6x on JetBlue purchases, 2x at restaurants and eligible grocery stores, 1x on other purchases.
– Benefits: Anniversary bonus points, progress toward Mosaic elite status with spending, first checked bag free, inflight savings, $100 JetBlue Vacations statement credit, no foreign transaction fees.
– Who it’s for: Frequent JetBlue flyers or those based near JetBlue hubs who benefit from high earning on carrier spend.
United Explorer Card
– Annual fee: $0 first year, then $150
– Welcome: Up to 80,000 miles — typically 70,000 after $3,000 in three months, plus 10,000 for adding an authorized user.
– Earning: Elevated miles on United flights (varies by fare class and status), 3x on other 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 application credit, two one-time United Club passes per anniversary, inflight discounts and various statement credits.
– Who it’s for: Semi-frequent United travelers who want a mix of travel credits, lounge access passes and checked-bag perks.
Bottom line
Airline cards with annual fees at or below $150 can still deliver tangible, easy-to-use benefits: free checked bags, priority boarding, anniversary credits and helpful welcome bonuses. Choose based on which airline you fly most, the value you place on companion fares or annual credits, and how you spend (airline purchases, dining, groceries, etc.). For occasional to semi-frequent flyers, one of these mid-fee cards can offset its cost quickly through fees saved and statement credits.