5 Odd US Airline Credit Cards

The nature of the North American airline loyalty landscape can be categorized by a few major players that maintain immense control over the market, with programs like United Airlines’ MileagePlus and Delta Air Lines’ SkyMiles having millions of members each. As a result, these programs can negotiate lucrative credit card partnerships that allow them to continue driving passenger loyalty while also opening up a new stream of revenue, as credit card companies will buy miles in bulk to use them to reward their customers.

Despite this level of market dominance from the three most important programs in the industry, many smaller loyalty programs often fall under the radar. These lesser-known programs still do bring in good money for their airlines, many of which do so by releasing co-branded credit cards.

These credit cards are significantly less popular than the best-selling offerings from airlines like Delta and United, which have some of the most valuable cobranded partnerships with American Express and Chase Bank, respectively.

While some of the credit cards we will discuss below do not offer the best rewards, all of these cards are designed with a specific customer in mind, one for which this specific kind of card checks all the boxes. Let’s take a deeper look at five US airline credit cards that you may not know even existed.

1

Sun Country Airlines Visa Signature Card

Offered through First National Bank of Omaha (FNBO)

The Sun Country Airlines Visa Signature Card is the primary cobranded credit card offering from the Minnesota-based ultra-low-cost carrier, which primarily serves leisure routes from its hub at Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport (MSP). The card provides solid value to cardmembers, offering the following generous accrual schedule:

• 3 points per $1 spent on Sun Country Airlines purchases
• 2 points per $1 spent on gas or groceries
• 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases

Photo: Sun Country Airlines

With a low annual fee of just $69, several arguments can be made for this card to be worth it, with the welcome offer alone likely worth at least $150, justifying the card’s annual fee on its own for the first year. The cobranded partner for this card, the Nebraska-based First National Bank of Omaha (FNBO), offers extremely few cobranded credit card products, with the one other notable airline card being the Japan Airlines USA Card.

2

Hawaiian Airlines World Elite Mastercard

Offered through: Bank of Hawaii

Despite an upcoming merger with Alaska Airlines which is set to streamline Hawaiian’s loyalty program into a joint program, some dedicated Hawaiian Airlines credit cards still exist. The most noteworthy of these is the Hawaiian Airlines World Elite Mastercard, a card offered by the Bank of Hawaii which offers the following accrual schedule:

• 3 miles per $1 spent on Hawaiian Airlines purchases
• 2 miles per $1 spent on gas, groceries, and eligible delivery services
• 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases

Photo: Hawaiian Airlines

In addition to this welcome benefit, the card also offers new members a 50% off companion discount coupon, allowing them to save quite significantly on their next trip to Hawaii, according to the Hawaiian Airlines website. Furthermore, with the card offering a low annual fee of just $99, the card can easily be justified with the $100 companion coupon which is offered every year.

3

Always Rewards Visa Credit Card

Offered through: Bank of America

Photo: Allegiant Air

The Allways Rewards Visa Credit Card is the exclusive cobranded credit card offering from ultra-low-cost carrier Allegiant Air. Offered through cobranded partner Bank of America, the card does offer a fair amount of value, including buy-one-get-one-free airfare on all bookings that include four-night stays booked via Allegiant’s travel portal. With a $59 annual fee, the card offers the following accrual schedule according to Bank of America:

• 3 points per $1 spent on Allegiant Air purchases
• 2 points per $1 spent on groceries
• 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases

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4

Breeze Easy Visa Signature Credit Card

Offered through: Barclays

Photo: Breeze Airways

Hybrid carrier Breeze Airways has only recently launched its loyalty program but already has a cobranded credit card on the market. Unlike Avelo Airlines, which partners with Capital One to offer extra benefits for those who have Capital One Venture Cards, Breeze has its credit card offered through Barclays. With just an $89 annual fee and other benefits like free Wi-Fi and priority boarding, the credit card can offer some value in addition to its generous accrual schedule:

• 10 BreezePoints per $1 spent on higher-level Breeze purchases (including add-ons and premium purchases)
• 4 BreezePoints per $1 spent on standard Breeze purchases
• 2 BreezePoints per $1 spent on groceries and restaurant purchases
• 1 BreezePoint per $1 spent on all other purchases

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5

AAdvantage Aviator Mastercard

Offered through: Barclays

Photo: American Airlines

The AAdvantage Aviator Mastercard is a relic of US Airways’ cobranded credit card partnership with Barclays, one which the carrier was forced to absorb following its merger with the airline. With no annual fee, the Aviator card has exactly one thing going for it. Beyond that, the card brings extremely little to the table in terms of benefits and is one of the least value-adding cards on the market today. It offers the following mediocre accrual schedule:

• 1 mile per $1 spent on American Airlines and partner airline purchases
• 1 mile per $2 spent on all other purchases